POWERING BY ­— Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther’s Bethany Petrowiak (22) powers by Madelia’s Katherine DeVlaeminck (right) and Corban Tatro (25) during their Section 2A, South Sub-Section quarterfinal basketball game on Monday night in Granada. The Jaguars’ Londyn Bowers (11) watches the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

GRANADA — Seniors Bethany Petrowiak, McKenna Benck and Olivia Mattson worked in unison to spearhead the Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther Jaguars’ turnover-creating full-court press during Monday night’s basketball playoff opener.

Petrowiak neared rare triple-double territory by scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and pocketing seven steals, while Benck contributed another double-double of 10 points and a co-game-high 11 boards to go with six steals and three assists during their final appearances at the Granada gymnasium.

Mattson supplied balanced numbers of nine points, six steals, five rebounds and three assists to add punch to Petrowiak’s and Benck’s efforts to power the Jaguars to a 59-36 rout over the Madelia Blackhawks in Section 2A, South Sub-Section quarterfinal action.

The South’s No. 1-seeded Jaguars (20-6) advance to face No. 4-seeded Mankato Loyola in a 6 p.m. sub-section semifinal on Thursday night at St. Peter High School. The Crusaders gained the next round by edging No. 5-seeded Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons by a 65-62 decision.

South No. 8 seed Madelia ended its season with a 3-23 overall record.

“We didn’t shoot well from the floor tonight, but our free-throw shooting definitely helped us build a lead and stay ahead for the game,” said Jaguars’ head coach T.J. Pytleski, whose lineup played without starting guard Keira Benck and key reserve Brianna Petrowiak due to medical protocol following injuries in their previous game. “Our defensive pressure created 38 turnovers, with 27 of those being steals by our girls.

“At this time of the season, it’s simply win and advance.”

Mattson’s putback basket, Petrowiak’s free throws and Mattson’s steal turned end-to-end layup ‘and-1′ play allowed the Jaguars to claw out an early 7-0 lead before Madelia head coach Tylor Duerksen called timeout at the 14:11 juncture.

Benck followed the brief recess with a right-corner 3-pointer to cap the game-opening double-figure surge.

Katherine DeVlaeminck, who produced impressive numbers of 20 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and six steals, finally ended Madelia’s scoring drought with a pair of free throws at the 12:41 juncture.

DeVlaeminck managed to keep the Blackhawks within striking distance at 21-17 with back-to-back low-post conversions off assists from Kellie Koberoski before sophomore guard Addison Nowicki supplied an instant spark off the Jaguars’ bench.

Nowicki, who finished with nine points, converted an Ayla Meixell assist for a 10-footer in the lane before Londyn Bowers fed Benck for a top-of-the-key 3-pointer with a minute remaining before intermission.

Nowicki later converted both ends of a one-and-one situation to extend the Jaguars’ margin to 28-17 by halftime.

Benck, Petrowiak and Mattson equally combined for six points to trigger the purple-and-white’s quick start to the second half and doubled their lead to 34-17.

Bowers’ runner off a Mattson assist and Mattson’s cutter off a perfect give-and-go play with Benck proved the catalyst behind the Jaguars’ ensuing 11-0 run that put the game away.

Petrowiak hit a drive in the paint, Harley Geistfeld cashed in a steal for a layup, Madisen Lewis tossed in a putback basket and Nowicki nailed a trifecta for a 48-20 lead with 9 minutes remaining.

Madelia      17-19–36

GTML        28-31–59

GTML (59)

Bethany Petrowiak 5-13 6-6 16, Olivia Mattson 3-10 3-7 9, Madisen Lewis 1-5 2-3 4, Londyn Bowers 1-12 2-5 4, McKenna Benck 4-13 0-0 10, Harley Geistfeld 2-4 0-1 5, Addison Nowicki 3-9 2-2 9, Alya Meixell 0-2 0-1 0, Eisley Emmert 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 20-71 15-25 59.

MADELIA (36)

Katherine DeVlaeminck 8-20 3-3 20, Corban Tatro 1-2 0-0 2, Kellie Koberoski 1-2 1-2 3, Alicia Lugo 2-11 0-0 6, Adrianne Missling 0-0 0-0 0, Lauryn Grev 1-2 1-2 3, Kedra Kirchner 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 14-41 5-7 36.

3-pointers: GHEC/Truman/Martin Luther 4-16 (Benck 2, Geistfeld and Nowicki 1 each); Madelia 3-20 (Lugo 2, DeVlaeminck 1). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: GHECTML 44 (Benck 11, Petrowiak 10); Madelia 24 (DeVlaeminck 11). Assists: Madelia 10 (Koberoski and Kirchner 3 each); GHECTML 9 (Mattson and Benck 3 each). Steals: GHECTML 27 (Petrowiak 7, Mattson and Benck 6 each); Madelia 12 (DeVlaeminck 6, Lugo 4). Blocked shots: DeVlaeminck 5.

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Boys Basketball

Blue Earth Area 71, Tri-City United 48 — Gage Barker poured in 18 points to top a balanced Bucs’ offensive effort in coasting to a 23-point triumph over the Titans during nonconference action Monday night in Montgomery.

Barker also distributed six assists and pocketed four steals, while teammate Taylor Davids connected on five 3-pointers to fuel his 17-point performance. Davids also grabbed eight rebounds.

Max Loge made three 3-pointers to highlight his 15-point outing and nearly netted a double-double by pulling down a team-best nine rebounds.

Jacob Grandgenett contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists for BEA (11-12) travels to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Thursday.