Zach Jorgensen

JACKSON — Zach Jorgensen drove the lane, elevated and hit the running lay-in with 8 seconds remaining in regulation to swing a 71-70 lead back to the Fairmont Cardinals on Tuesday night in Jackson.

Armando Hernandez then utilized his 6-foot-5 frame and defensive prowess to garner a last-second steal to seal Fairmont’s one-point Big South Conference basketball triumph over the Jackson County Central Huskies on their home hardwood court.

The two rivals battled back-and-forth to a 35-all tie at intermission before trading the lead down the stretch en route to the narrow final margin.

Gavin Junkermeier delivered a team-best 15 points for a balanced Cardinals’ attack, Levi Pooley connected for 14 points, while Sawyer Tordsen neared a double-double performance by producing 13 points and grabbing a team-high nine boards.

Hernandez contributed 11 points and five rebounds to Fairmont’s effort, Jacob Crissinger tossed in nine points, while Jorgensen distributed a game-best 12 assists to go with six points.

Brendan Schmidtke doled out three assists for the Cardinals, who made 27 of 54 field goals overall for 50 percent, including 7 of 13 from behind the 3-point arc. Fairmont also sank 10 of 17 free throws.

Tordsen and Hernandez assisted the Cardinals in pocketing a 34-28 edge in rebounding.

Travis Rogotzke drained three 3-pointers to pace a game-leading 22-point performance to top JCC, while teammates Erik Hesebeck and Roman Voss delivered 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Fairmont (4-5) plays host to St. Peter on Thursday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont in another Big South contest.

JCC downed Fairmont in B-squad action, 58-47, Tuesday night.

Hadan Toomer scored 16 points to pace the Cardinals, while Blaze Geiger and Prince Lebbi supplied eight and seven points, respectively.

JCC defeated Fairmont in C-squad play, 60-31, Tuesday night.

Harmon Schrunk netted 12 points for the visiting Cardinals, Nolan Schultze scored 11 points, while Oliver Tordsen chipped in eight points.

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Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 63, Blue Earth Area 61 (OT) — Ashton Lloyd drilled an overtime-creating midcourt shot at the buzzer in regulation for the Bucs, but the Knights outlasted the home team in the extra session Tuesday night in Blue Earth.

Lloyd generated a game-best 25 points, including his late heroic 3-pointer, to pace the Bucs, while Gabriel Torres netted 11 points.

Jack Norman tallied seven points, Luke Norman scored six and Waylen Douglas added five points for BEA.

Zack Wells scored 18 points to pace LCWM’s winning effort.

Blue Earth Area (4-4) travels to Waseca on Friday night.

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North Union 53, Eagle Grove 41 — Logan Odegaard tallied a game-best 20 points to power the Warriors to a 12-point Top of Iowa Conference victory over the Eagles on Tuesday night in Armstrong.

Aidan Lofstrom contributed 10 points and four rebounds to North Union’s winning ways, Nick Schiltz tallied six points, while Kyan Jones distributed eight assists, pocketed six steals and grabbed four rebounds.

Odegaard also pulled down four boards for the Warriors, who made 19 of 35 shots from 2-point distance and 9 of 16 free throws.

North Union (6-3) travels to Garner-Hayfield/Ventura on Friday night.

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Mountain Lake/Comfrey 59, Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC 45 — Carter Olson collected 21 points and six rebounds to power the Wolverines to a 14-point non-league win over the Jaguars on Tuesday night in Granada.

Kolby Kremmin generated 14 points and five steals for the Wolverines, who built a 30-18 halftime lead.

Adam Heckman produced another double-double performance of 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Jaguars, while teammate Jakob Fischer supplied 11 points, six boards and three assists.

Carter Fox added eight points for the Jaguars (4-5), who play host to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Thursday night in Granada.