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Eagle boys upset St. James in overtime

NEW ULM — The New Ulm boys’ basketball team earned its first Big South Conference win and its fourth victory of the season, downing St. James Area 61-58 in overtime on Thursday. It was the Saints’ second loss in a row.

In the overtime, Reece Melby dropped in a free throw for a 55-54 Eagle lead. Parker Jones scored, was fouled and made a free throw to regain the lead for SJA at 57-55.

Jaden Domeier and Braden Zimmerman scored lay-up baskets off consecutive steals by the Eagles’ defense. Domeier’s basket tied it at 57-apiece and Zimmerman’s basket (with 1:15 left) gave the Eagles the 59-57 lead.

Jones later hit a free throw to cut New Ulm’s lead to 59-58, but Melby canned two free throws to ensure the New Ulm win.

“It was one really good win for us,” New Ulm head coach Matt Hauge said. Hauge recalled that the Eagles lost to SJA 68-45 earlier in the season.

Zimmerman led New Ulm with 21 points while Melby had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Melby sent the game into overtime with a shot that sailed three-fourths of way the down the court and through the net as the buzzer sounded to end regulation play at 54-54.

SJA had a three second violation called on them with 23.1 seconds left. Zimmerman’s shot was blocked by a SJA defender. Jones hit one free throw giving the Saints a 54-51 lead.

“We didn’t put our heads down [after the block on Zimmerman’s shot]. We responded,” Hauge said.

Things didn’t look good for New Ulm earlier in the second half. Kobe Mohwinkel’s 3-point shot with 7:20 left gave SJA a 51-38 advantage. Melby canned two 3-pointers, Ashton Hames scored, Zimmerman made a free throw and a fast-break lay-up shot by Zimmerman cut the SJA lead to 53-49. Domeier’s lay-up made 53-51.

The first half featured a close game from the opening tip-off. The Eagles led for a portion of it, but the Saints battled back with Mohwinkel hitting a 3-pointer, making a basket and Hayden Jones scoring for a 24-20 Saint lead. Cole Backer answered with a 3-pointer for the Eagles. SJA went on a 3-0 run for a 27-23 halftime advantage.

The Eagles will host Sibley East on Friday.

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