Gavin Junkermeier

MANKATO – Kolton Kunz and Lawson Godfrey combined for 51 points to engineer the Mankato Loyola Crusaders’ 69-60 victory over the Fairmont Cardinals during the third-place game in the Bethany Lutheran College/Kwik Trip Holiday basketball tournament on Thursday night in Mankato.

Kunz dialed long distance from 3-point range for a game-best five times to fuel his game-leading 27-point performance, while Godfrey contributed a 24-point effort.

Power forward Gavin Junkermeier produced a team-best 19 points to pace the Cardinals’ Day 3 performance. Junkermeier also pulled down six rebounds.

Levi Pooley supplied 13 points and pocketed three steals for Fairmont, while teammate Sawyer Tordsen scored a dozen points.

Zach Jorgensen generated solid all-around numbers for the Cardinals by scoring eight points, garnering five boards and distributing five assists.

Armando Hernandez cleaned the boards for a game-high 13 caroms to pace Fairmont’s 35-26 rebounding advantage on the contest. Hernandez also scored four points, while teammate Jacob Crissinger chipped in four points.

The Cardinals connected on 22 of 58 field goals overall, including just 5 of 24 from 3-point range. Fairmont also blistered the nets on 11 of 15 free throws.

Loyola held a 31-28 lead at intermission before outscoring Fairmont 38-32 during the final 18 minutes.

Fairmont (3-5) travels to Jackson County Central on Tuesday night for a Big South Conference game.

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Fairmont captured the BLC/Kwik Trip Holiday Invite’s junior varsity tournament championship by defeating St. Clair, 43-37, on Thursday in Mankato.

Hadan Toomer scored 11 points to pace the Cardinals’ winning ways, Blake Hilgendorf generated nine points, while Jamie Mueller tossed in eight points.

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Jackson County Central 62, Blue Earth Area 60 — Eighth-grade phenom Roman Voss sank two free throws with 19 seconds remaining in regulation to propel the Huskies to a two-point victory over the host Bucs during the championship game of the Blue Earth Area Holiday Invitational on Thursday night in Blue Earth.

Damien Phaly made a steal in the waning seconds to seal JCC’s comeback win.

Erik Hesebeck produced 17 points to top the Huskies’ offensive effort, while teammates Christian Benda and Travis Rogotzke contributed 14 points apiece.

Ashton Lloyd generated a game-leading 20 points to pace the hometown Bucs, while Luke Norman delivered 13 points.

Jack Norman and Waylen Douglas each tallied nine points for Blue Earth Area.

Blue Earth Area (4-3) plays host to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Tuesday night in a nonconference game.

Jackson County Central plays host to Fairmont on Tuesday night.

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United South Central 64, Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain 57 — Nick Bushlack netted 18 points and distributed seven assists to guide the Rebels to a seven-point win over the Jaguars during the third-place game of the Buc Holiday Invitational on Thursday night in Blue Earth.

Tucker Grathwohl poured in 15 points to top the Jaguars, Adam Heckman neared double-double territory by scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds, while Carter Fox added nine points.

The Jaguars (4-4) play host to Mountain Lake Area on Tuesday night in Granada in a nonconference contest.