NORTHROP — Adam Heckman transformed a baseline drive into a dunk to put an exclamation mark on his 16th birthday festivities Thursday night in Northrop.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore phenom erupted for a career-best 33 points, grabbed a game-high nine boards and rejected four shots to power the Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Jaguars to a 60-35 Valley Conference basketball victory over the Alden-Conger Knights.

Adam Heckman proved a one-player wrecking crew by pouring in 20 points to power the Jaguars to a 36-21 halftime lead before delivering the home team’s initial 11 points of the second half.

Ironically, Heckman’s 32nd and 33rd points were a result of his nimble-footed weave through Knight defenders along the baseline, followed by a rim-rattling slam to close out his outstanding performance with 7:19 remaining in regulation.

“Opposing defenses have been doubling and tripling down on him in the low post, so we’re going to have to figure out a way to score points from the outside,” said Jaguars head coach Adam Walker.

Ironically, Adam Heckman also topped the purple-and-black attack from 3-point range, tossing in 3 of 6 attempts behind the arc, en route to a 14-for-20 field-goal shooting effort.

Unfortunately, Heckman’s Jaguar teammates combined to make only 11 of 39 shots from the floor, including 2 of 15 from long-distance.

Point guard Owen Wolter connected on 4 of 9 field goals, including one 3-pointer, en route to nine points, while distributing a game-best five assists to complement three steals to add punch to Adam Heckman’s outing.

Wolter served as the catalyst behind the Jaguars’ game-opening 8-0 run by swooshing a 15-footer off Cayden Fischer’s assist before Wolter traded roles during a fastbreak, with Carter Spear converting Wolter’s pass into a layup.

Adam Heckman then converted Wolter’s assist and Matt Heckman’s entry pass into the low post into back-to-back baskets before Alden-Conger guard Isaac Burgett delivered a drive-and-scoop to end the visitors’ offensive drought at the 15-minute juncture.

Wolter later drilled his lone 3-pointer of the game to trigger the Jaguars’ 10-0 surge that ended with 7 minutes left before intermission.

Spear and Fischer fed Adam Heckman for low-post leaners before Matt Heckman spotted Spear for a right-wing trifecta and a 24-8 margin.

Adam Heckman then displayed his extended shooting range by banking home a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the Jaguars into the lockerroom with a 15-point lead.

The Jaguars’ super sophomore center then single-handedly outscored the Knights, 11-5, during the first 8 minutes of the second half to help build a 50-26 margin.

Aidan Cummings, Justin Nemec and Burgett each netted nine points to top the Knights’ effort. Nemec also grabbed a team-best five boards, while Burgett doled out three assists and pocketed three steals.

The Jaguars (12-4) hit the road to Windom Area tonight for a nonconference contest. Alden-Conger (1-13) plays host to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Tuesday night in Alden.

Alden-Conger 21-14–35

TML/GHEC 36-24–60

TMLGHEC (60)

A. Heckman 14-20 2-2 33, Fischer 2-7 0-0 4, M. Heckman 1-7 0-0 2, Spear 2-6 0-0 5, Wolter 4-9 0-0 9, Jaskulke 1-6 2-4 4, Bowers 0-2 0-0 0, Kruse 1-1 1-2 3, Kube 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 5-8 60.

A-C (35)

Miller 0-3 1-4 1, Springer 2-5 0-0 4, Burgett 4-9 1-3 9, Cummings 4-7 0-0 9, Nemec 4-10 1-2 9, Newman 0-3 1-2 1, Erkkila 0-3 0-0 0, Redman 0-1 0-0 0, Greenfield 0-2 0-0 0, Renaux 0-1 0-0 0, Grunzke 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 15-45 4-11 35.

3-pointers: TMLGHEC 5-21 (A. Heckman 3-6, Spear 1-4, Wolter 1-4, M. Heckman 0-4, Bowers 0-2, Kube 0-1); Alden-Conger 1-10 (Cummings 1-2, Springer 0-1, Burgett 0-1, Nemec 0-2, Newman 0-3, Erkkila 0-1, Renaux 0-1). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: TMLGHEC 41 (A. Heckman 9); Alden-Conger 22 (Nemec 5). Assists: TMLGHEC 13 (Wolter 5, Spear 3); Alden-Conger 6 (Burgett 3). Steals: TMLGHEC 10 (Wolter 3); Alden-Conger 10 (Burgett 3). Blocked shots: TMLGHEC 7 (A. Heckman 4).

Martin County West 67, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 58 — The Mavericks outscored the Bulldogs 36-29 in the second half to pull away for a nine-point Valley Conference triumph on Thursday night in Janesville.

Martin County West extended its winning streak to 11 in a row en route to a 14-1 overall record.

Wyatt Geistfeld delivered a team-best 20 points to top the Mavericks’ balanced offensive attack, while Angel Reyes contributed 13 points to the winning effort.

Mitch Weber came off MCW’s bench to produce 11 clutch points, while teammate Derek Dunlop chipped in eight points.

Kobe Weimert generated a game-high 24 points to top the Bulldogs, while teammate Cole Gunderson added 10 points.

Martin County West (14-1, 5-0 Valley) travels to Mankato Loyola on Tuesday night.