TRAPPED — Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain teammates Jacob Moeller (11) and Adam Heckman (41) combine forces to trap Alden-Conger’s Kyle Honstad (5) during Valley Conference basketball action Thursday night in Truman. The Jaguars’ Carter Fox (10) and the Knights’ Jaden Linn (15) watch the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

TRUMAN — Senior center Adam Heckman set a team record for points in a single game, earning a 37-point performance for the Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain Jaguars as they dominated the Alden-Conger Knights 90-67 in Valley Conference basketball action on Thursday night.

Heckman claimed 24 points in the first half alone, then came back with 13 in the second to take the record on the strength of 15 two-point field goals and seven made free throws.

“We’re happy for him,” Jaguars head coach Brian Borkenhagen said. “Our whole key is that we have to be able to bend defenses. If they’re going to pin down the middle, we have to hit shots from outside and we did that tonight. It was a lot of fun to watch.”

With the Jaguars holding a 16-12 lead after the opening minutes of the first half, an 8-point run would allow the team to pull ahead to a double-digit advantage that they would not look back from.

In addition to scoring the historic achievement, Heckman also pulled down a game-leading 14 rebounds on the way to the victory.

Jaguars guard Carter Fox also reached a single-game career high by scoring 18 points while making four shots from beyond the 3-point arc to go along with six rebounds.

Guard Jakob Fischer also had a double-digit game with 10 points for the Jaguars, while forward Tucker Grathwohl would come off the bench to collect seven boards.

“We had our full lineup here tonight,” Borkenhagen said. “We worked the ball really well and it’s good to get a win. We want this momentum to lead into St. Clair (tonight).”

Lucas Hensche and Quentin Guanella each put together strong showings for Alden-Conger with 20 points each, as Hensche scored a game-leading six 3-pointers.

Guanella would not be far behind his Knights’ teammate by sinking five 3-pointers. Hentsche also led the Knights with 11 rebounds, as guard Caleb Songstad captured 11 points in the loss and forward Jaden Linn grabbed eight rebounds.

The Jaguars (7-10) will next play at home against St. Clair in another Valley Conference game at 7 p.m. tonight in Granada, while the Knights (2-16) play host to LeRoy-Ostrander in a nonconference matchup on Saturday night.

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Martin County West 59, St. Clair 56 — The Class 1A No. 3-ranked Mavericks outscored the Cyclones 30-26 in the second half to erase a one-point halftime deficit to net the Valley Conference victory on Thursday night in St. Clair.

Zach Anderson delivered a game-leading 20 points and pulled down six rebounds for MCW, while teammate Tanner Sinn produced 16 points and five boards.

Mitchell Weber generated 12 points, distributed five assists and pocketed three steals for the Mavericks, while Tate Leiding chipped in five points.

The Mavericks made 14 of 23 shots from 2-point distance, 7 of 15 behind the arc and 10 of 14 at the free throw line.

Derrick Zeldenrust netted 17 points to top St. Clair, while teammate Brandon Meng tossed in 11 points.

Martin County West (17-1) travels to Luverne for a noon nonconference tipoff on Saturday.

St. Clair (14-6) faces Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain at 7 p.m. tonight in Granada in another Valley contest.

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Girls Basketball

Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 73, Martin County West 25 — The Mustangs stampeded for 45 first-half points to trigger a lopsided win over the short-handed Mavericks during nonconference action Thursday night in Hector.

Kristi Kottke hit two 3-pointers to highlight a game-best 17-point outing to top a balanced Mustang offensive attack.

Madalynn Wulkan produced 15 points, Rachel Kottke generated 12 points, Emily Halde tossed in 10 points, while Ellaina Bergstrom made a pair of 3-pointers to pace a nine-point effort for BLHS.

Avery Sanders scored seven points to top MCW, which was missing two starters due to illness.

Ella Carlson and Camryn Clow tossed in four points apiece, while Kari Matejka and Katie Hartke added three points each for the Mavericks.

Martin County West (6-10) plays host to St. Clair tonight at 7 p.m. in Sherburn in a conference game.