REVERSE LAYUP — Blue Earth Area’s Ashton Lloyd elevates before scoring a reverse layup despite Fairmont post player Sawyer Tordsen’s defensive challenge near the rim during Big South Conference basketball action Friday night at Cardinal Gym. Fairmont’s Jacob Crissinger (2) and Armando Hernandez watch the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Fairmont post player Sawyer Tordsen scored a team-leading 17 points to guide the Cardinals to a 58-57 Big South Conference basketball victory over the Blue Earth Area Bucs on Friday night, allowing the team to claim a three-game winning streak for the first time this season.

“We’ve been playing better,” Cardinals head coach Jared Thompson said. “We had four days of practice and the kids practiced great all week. We’ve been getting better for two or three weeks now, we just haven’t had a lot of games, but we’re starting to see all of the little habits offensively and defensively that the kids are doing more consistently.”

Despite a late charge from post player Ashton Lloyd and his Buc teammates, which saw them close the gap seven points to just one in the final minute of regulation, the Cardinals’ defense held as a Bucs’ last-second 3-point shot fell wide of the basket.

“We’re just very thankful that it didn’t go in,” Thompson said. “For us to stick together and still hold on to get the win, we just feel very fortunate and happy.”

The Cardinals took a 32-24 lead at halftime, before the Bucs’ second-half surge behind Lloyd nearly accomplished the comeback.

Lloyd earned a game-leading 34 points, on the strength of seven baskets from 3-point range, including two in the contest’s final minutes. Lloyd also led the team with six rebounds, as teammates Gabriel Torres and Luke Norman each contributed five boards.

In addition to leading the Cardinals in points with seven successful field goals and three made free throws, Tordsen also collected 10 rebounds in the victory.

“Sawyer’s hard to handle and our guys did a great job of finding him,” Thompson said. “Blue Earth Area started to bring a lot of help in, but we were still able to get him the ball just enough in the second half to make them pay.”

Guard Zachary Jorgensen also was a major factor in the Cardinals’ win with 11 points, as he sank five 2-pointers.

Fairmont (7-8) plays host to Worthington at 5:15 p.m. today, while Blue Earth Area (8-8) travels to Trimont on Monday night to face Martin County West.

Prince Lebbi scored 11 points and Hadan Toomer contributed nine points to steer Fairmont to a 49-43 win over Blue Earth Area during B-squad action Friday night in Fairmont.

Harmon Schrunk erupted for a game-best 22 points to power Fairmont’s 48-19 rout over Blue Earth Area during C-squad action Friday night in Fairmont.

St. Clair 64, Truman/ Martin Luther/GHEC 44 — Devin Embacher collected 14 points and doled out six assists to twist the Cyclones to a 20-point Valley Conference victory over the Jaguars on Friday night in Granada.

Adam Heckman produced 11 points and eight rebounds to pace the Jaguars, Tucker Grathwohl generated eight points and eight boards, while Jakob Fischer supplied eight points and six rebounds.

The Jaguars (7-11) play host to Mankato Loyola at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Truman.

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 74, North Union 36 — Drew Britson netted 13 points to top a balanced scoring attack as the Cardinals rolled to a 38-point Top of Iowa Conference rout over the Warriors on Friday night in Armstrong.

Logan Odegaard produced 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to pace North Union, while teammate Aiden Lofstrom tossed in 11 points. Kyan Jones doled out three assists for the Warriors, while Landon Hagedorn pocketed three steals.

North Union (8-11) plays host to Lake Mills on Tuesday night in Armstrong.

Girls Basketball

Fairmont 66, Blue Earth Area 16 — The Cardinals limited the Bucs to just two second-half points to coast to a 50-point Big South Conference rout on Friday night in Blue Earth.

Maggy Totzke connected for a game-best 15 points for Fairmont, while teammate Rayah Quiring collected all-around solid numbers of 13 points, five assists and four steals.

Brittney Mosloski supplied 11 points and five steals for the Cardinals, Cadee Becker delivered eight points and eight boards, Cassidy Schultz grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists, while Emma Gudahl added three steals.

The Cardinals made 27 of 57 field goals overall, including 7 of 21 from 3-point range.

Maddie Schiltz scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds for the Bucs, while Sophia Keister added four points.

Fairmont (18-2) travels to Worthington tonight for a 7:30 p.m. conference game. Blue Earth Area (4-15) hits the road to Jackson County Central on Monday night.

Nevaeh Rahm tallied 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Fairmont to a 67-24 triumph over Blue Earth Area during B-squad action Friday night.

Brylee Miller produced 16 points and pocketed five steals for the Cardinals (18-1).

Kennedy Becker generated 18 points, eight steals and three assists to power Fairmont to a 36-10 victory over Blue Earth Area during C-squad action Friday.

Meredith Nemmers contributed eight points and six rebounds to the Cardinals’ winning ways.

North Union 42, Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 20 — Sam Nielsen tallied 13 points and pocketed three steals to help the Warriors put the clamps on the Cardinals during Top of Iowa Conference action Friday night in Armstrong.

Naomi Jones delivered 11 points and seven steals for North Union, while Lily Henderson supplied five rebounds, six steals and three assists.

Olivia Von Bank contributed five points and three steals to the Warriors’ winning ways, Cassie Beadle netted five points and Alivia Charlton pulled down seven rebounds.

North Union (15-5) plays host to Lake Mills on Tuesday night in Armstrong.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 80, Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther 47 — Olivia Harazin poured in a game-best 25 points to help the Knights cage the Jaguars by 33 points during Valley Conference action Friday night in Lake Crystal.

Katelyn Diegnau produced 20 points to top the Jaguars’ effort, Mallery Geistfeld collected nine points and grabbed four rebounds, while Bethany Petrowiak chipped in five points.

The Jaguars (9-8) play host to Minnesota Valley Lutheran on Monday night in Granada.

St. Clair 67, Martin County West 33 — Kayli Hinze scored a game-best 22 points and Brooklin Hinze contributed 21 more to steer the Cyclones to a 34-point Valley Conference victory over the Mavericks on Friday night in Sherburn.

Emily Anderson netted 10 points to pace the Mavericks, Kari Matejka chipped in eight points, while Thea Anderson added six points.

Martin County West (6-11) plays host to Nicollet on Monday night in Sherburn in a Valley game.