MW BASKETBALL: Bluejays, Lady Jays pick up wins at Western Tech

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Orie Brown and Mitch Hopkins both scored 21 points for the Minnesota West Bluejays basketball team in an 80-72 win over the Western Technical College Cavaliers Saturday in a Southern Division matchup.

“We outrebounded them by eight, so that was a big thing in getting us the win,” MW coach Justin Heckenlaible said. “We made some big stops at big times and executed at the end.”

The Bluejays had 39 rebounds in the game compared to 31 by the Cavaliers. MW also made 11 free throws, while WT had just seven.

Despite holding a 43-38 lead at halftime, the Bluejays had trouble stopping the Cavaliers deep ball in the first half.

“We guarded them better in the second half after letting them make seven 3-pointers in the first,” Heckenlaible said, “but we held them to just four in the second. That really made a difference in the game.”

Aside from their 21 point on the night, Brown and Hopkins both chipped in on the boards, picking up five and six rebounds respectively.

Luke Roddy and Cody Harris added nine points apiece, while Roddy had 10 assists and Harris had four rebounds. Jackson Seitzinger picked up eight points in the game, while Tyler Aquallo and Taylor Lupton both had six points.

“We played much better offensively than we have the last few games,” Heckenlaible said. “We were a lot more patient and made them work a little bit more to get their shots.”

The Cavaliers had four players in double-digits as Ray Goines led the way with 14 points, followed by Ryan Svendson and Javaris Flowers with 12 points and Cody Krueger with 10 points.

“We had a lead at the end and were able to hold them off to get the win,” Heckenlaible said.

The Bluejays (8-6, 1-1) host Ridgewater in the second game of a men’s/women’s doubleheader Wednesday in Worthington.

Bluejays 43 37 — 80

Cavaliers 38 34 — 72

WOMEN

Minnesota West 90,

Western Tech 62

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Led by 31 points from Lindsey Drooger, the Lady Jays basketball team dominated the Western Tech College Cavaliers 90-62 Saturday to improve to 1-1 in the Southern Division.

“We shot the ball really, really well,” MW coach Mike Fury said. “That was why we played so good; when the ball goes in it makes it more fun for us.”

The Lady Jays held a 50-37 lead at halftime, but really opened up the game in the second half with an early run.

“We had a nice lead at halftime, but then we came out and scored the first six points of the second half and that put us up by 19,” Fury said. “But then they made a little run to get the lead down to eight.”

The Cavaliers came within nine points in the second half, but the Lady Jays were able to hit multiple 3-pointers in a row to get back to a comfortable lead.

“We had a little patience on offense,” Fury said. “We came out shooting real well and got up by eight or so early which helped.”

Minnesota West shot 47 percent on the day and went 12 of 26 from the behind the arc, while picking up 16 points from the free throw line.

“It was a really nice win for us on the road,” Fury said.

Tiffany Gehl was second on the team in scoring with 24 points to go along with eight rebounds in the game. Brittany Hulstiein added 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while Mara Eichenberger had 11 points and five assists.

Katie Granstra led the team in rebounds with nine and also picked up four points in the game. Jes Hermeling had three points for the Lady Jays, while Katherine Kazemba picked up two points.

Leading the Cavaliers in scoring were Jenna McDonough with 19 points and Melissa Williams with 16 points. Western Tech made just two 3-pointers in the game and only had 14 points from the free throw line.

The Lady Jays improve to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in the Southern Division with the win. They host Ridgewater Wednesday in the first game of a men’s/women’s doubleheader in Worthington.

MW 50 40 — 90

WT 37 25 — 62

Tags: minnesota west sports, sports, mens, womens