Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Cathedral’s Jevan Wilfahrt scores on a layup during the Greyhounds’ Tomahawk Conference boys’ basketball game with Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Thursday night at Cathedral High School.

NEW ULM — Sophomore Jevan Wilfahrt led New Ulm Cathedral with 36 points and 17 rebounds in a losing cause as the Greyhounds fell 61-56 to Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Thursday in Tomahawk Conference boys’ basketball action.

“Jevan created opportunities for everyone; he gave maximum effort,” Cathedral head coach Alan Woitas said. “Our kids played hard, and I’m proud of our kids’ effort.”

The Mustangs started battling back late in the first half. They fell behind by as many as 10 points early, but they kept the pressure on Cathedral.

That effort paid off when BLHS’s Brayden Dornself dropped in two free throws for a 24-24 tie. Chase Hubin made two free throws for the Mustang’s lead of 26-24. Jevan Wilfahrt scored to tie it.

Connor MCColley stole the balled and he scored on a fast-break layup. He was fouled, and he made the free throw. McColley scored on another fast-break layup. Isaac Miller canned a 3-point shot from the right side of the arch at the buzzer. The score was 31-29 BLHS at halftime. Wilfahrt scored 18 points in the first half.

David Wilfahrt opened the second half with a 3-point basket to cut the deficit to 1 point at 32-31. After that, both teams exchanged baskets. The Greyhounds held the lead only three times for the remainder of the contest. Jevan Wilfahrt scored on an underhanded turn-around layup, making it 44-43 Cathedral.

The game remained close after that. The Greyhounds tied the game three more times. Each time, the Mustangs would respond. The final tie was 51-51 with roughly three minutes remaining.

Saxton Melberg and Chase Hubin scored two baskets. Gavin Bergsma scored and he was fouled. He made the free throw or a 57-51 Mustang lead. Connor McColley scored a key basket, making it 59-53 BLHS. David Wilfahrt dropped in a 3-point shot with 9.4 seconds left, bringing Cathedral within 3 points.

McCollley made two free throws for the winning margin. Throughout the game, the Mustangs had trouble making free throws.

Hubin led BLHS with 19 points while McColley added 18 points. David Wilfahrt scored 11 points for the Greyhounds.

Cathedral (0-1, 0-1) is at Cedar Mountain on Tuesday.