SWAT! — Fairmont post player Jazlyn Geerdes blocks a shot by Jackson County Central’s Maci Farmer during Big South Conference basketball action Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. The Cardinals’ Kate Busche (left) and Grace Pendergast (11) watch the defensive play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Fairmont senior Anna Ehlert swooshed two 3-pointers during Tuesday night’s Big South Conference basketball game’s initial 3 minutes to create the foundation for a record-setting team performance.

Freshman guard Brylee Miller drained a game-best four trifectas en route to a game-leading 28 points, while the Cardinals’ six active seniors combined for 25 points to collar the Jackson County Central Huskies, 72-50, in Fairmont.

“I could not have written a better script for our Senior Night tonight,” said Fairmont head coach Sara Junkermeier, whose lineup connected for a team school-record dozen 3-pointers made in a single game. “Every one of our seniors reached the scoring column and more importantly, they not only started the game but were on the court at the very end to close out the win.

“All of them have made so many contributions to our program’s success throughout the years. They will be missed.”

After Ehlert’s two treys, Jazlyn Geerdes’ low-post turnaround basket and Abby Cihoski’s leaner from the low blocks off an Anna Busche assist staked the Cardinals to an early 10-7 lead, Miller, Nevaeh Rahm and Grace Pendergast hit the hardwood floor 3 1/2 minutes into the Big South clash.

The trio of underclassmen combined to assemble a 9-2 offensive outburst to widen the gap to 20-9. Miller and Pendergast drilled one 3-pointer apiece, with Rahm doling out two of her three assists during that run before Fairmont erupted for another long-distance barrage 3 minutes later.

Ava Terfehr nailed a trifecta off a Pendergast pass before JCC sophomore guard Rylie Cother tossed in a countering left-wing jumper for two of her 14 points on the night. Cother erupted for a single-game school-record 52-point performance during the Huskies’ win over St. James Area on Monday night.

“We just tried to play solid defense against her (Cother) and (Maci) Farmer, and got the job done tonight,” said Junkermeier.

Miller and Cother traded end-to-end driving baskets before Kate Busche and Miller swooshed back-to-back 3s to create a 33-19 Fairmont lead with 6 minutes left in the first half.

Miller reeled off Fairmont’s ensuing 11 consecutive points by converting a steal into a layup, converted Ellie Ortega’s entry pass into a low-post basket, cashed in Terfehr’s assist for a right-corner 2-pointer and cashed in Olivia Ortega’s pass for a baseline fade jumper.

Pendergast, who finished with 10 points, alertly picked up a loose offensive carom and tossed in the 10-foot putback to beat the halftime horn for a 43-31 Fairmont lead.

Miller, Pendergast and Kate Busche triggered the Cardinals’ second-half offensive barrage with bonus baskets behind the arc before Rahm pulled down five of her game-best 11 rebounds to dominate the low blocks.

Rahm’s traditional 3-point play widened Fairmont’s lead to 62-38 with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.

Kate Busche contributed six points, three steals and three assists to the Cardinals’ winning ways, while Ehlert and Rahm also supplied six points apiece.

Farmer poured in a team-best 22 points on 9 of 18 field-goal shooting, including both of the Huskies’ 3-pointers, to complement pocketing three steals.

Kylee Wenzel tallied all seven of her points in the first half for JCC, while Brylee Anderson grabbed a team-best six boards and doled out three assists.

Fairmont (12-7) travels to Pipestone on Thursday for a 6 p.m. Game 1 tipoff of a varsity doubleheader. JCC (9-10) plays host to Marshall on Friday night.

JCC     31-19–50

FMT   43-29–72

FAIRMONT (72)

K. Busche 2-7 0-0 6, Geerdes 1-2 2-2 4, Cihoski 2-2 0-0 4, A. Busche 1-3 0-0 3, Ehlert 2-4 0-0 6, Rahm 2-8 2-3 6, Miller 12-16 0-1 28, Pendergast 4-7 0-0 10, Terfehr 1-3 0-0 3, O. Ortega 1-4 0-0 2, E. Ortega 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-57 4-6 72.

JCC (50)

Farmer 9-18 2-2 22, Wenzel 3-8 1-1 7, Rowe 2-5 1-2 5, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Cother 7-14 0-2 14, Benson 0-1 0-0 0, Coquyt 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 22-50 4-7 50.

3-pointers: Fairmont 12-29 (Miller 4, Ehlert 2, K. Busche 2, Pendergast 2, A. Busche 1, Terfehr 1); JCC 2-12 (Farmer 2). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Fairmont 37 (Rahm 11); JCC 17 (Anderson 6). Assists: Fairmont 18 (K. Busche, Rahm and Miller 3 each); JCC 6 (Anderson 3). Steals: JCC 10 (Farmer 3); Fairmont 7 (K. Busche 3).

Elayna Anderson hit the go-ahead field goal with 53 seconds remaining in regulation, while Rubi Reyes pocketed the game-clinching steal with 2.9 seconds to go to top Fairmont’s 24-23 win over Jackson County Central during B-squad action Tuesday night in Fairmont.

Abi Peyman and Anderson each scored eight points to top the Cardinals.

Kayla Lowry poured in a game-best 15 points to propel Fairmont to a 33-25 victory over Jackson County Central during C-squad play on Tuesday night in Fairmont.

Emelia Klanderud generated nine points for the Cardinals, while Kenzie Lowry chipped in seven points.