GIRLS BASKETBALL

BLHS 54, Sleepy Eye 49

HECTOR — Sleepy Eye’s Brea Mertz passed 1,000 career points on Thursday in a Tomahawk Conference girls basketball game against Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, but the Mustangs held on in the end for a 54-49 win.

Mertz finished the game with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, while Kadence Hesse had 21 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists. Paige Haala added 7 points and eight rebounds for the Indians, while Lydia Huiras added 7 points.

Sleepy Eye is at Redwood Valley on Monday.

RCW 48, Cathedral 38

NEW ULM — Renville County West topped New Ulm Cathedral 48-38 on Thursday night in a season-opening nonconference girls basketball game.

Shay Wilfahrt led the Greyhounds with 11 points, while Jenna Hotovec and Margo Finstad each had 10 points.

Cathedral (0-1) is at Lester Prairie for a 4:30 p.m. game on Saturday.

Nicollet 59, Sibley East 52

ARLINGTON — Nicollet opened its season up with a 59-52 win over Sibley East on Thursday night in nonconference girls basketball action.

The Raiders were led by Brooklyn Bode’s 21 points and five assists, while her younger sister Leah Bode had a 17 point, 10-rebound double-double. Savannah Klockziem also had 15 points and five rebounds to help lead the Raiders, while Tiana Sand had 16 rebounds and Shannon Soost had nine rebounds, seven steals and six assists.

Sibley East was led by Morgan Bednarek’s 15 points, while Lauren Bauer added 12.

Nicollet (1-0) is at Madelia for a 12:45 p.m. game on Saturday.

St. Mary’s 73, GFW 49

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s toppled Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop on Thursday night in a Tomahawk Conference girls basketball game.

The Knights were led by Allie Labat’s 22 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Natalie Fischer had 16 points, two assists and two steals and Liz Schwint had 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Morgan Mathiowetz added 14 points, five rebounds and four steals also for St. Mary’s, while Amelia Schwartz had 11 rebounds and three steals.

GFW was led by Brynn Busse’s 21 points, while Marti Jacobson had 10 points.

Madelia 51, USC 37

WELLS — Madelia started its season off with a 51-37 win over United South Central on Thursday in a nonconference girls basketball game.

Ollie Glover led the Blackhawks with 15 points, four steals, six rebounds and two blocks, while Alicia Grebenc had 14 points, four steals and two assists and Victoria Hemmingsen had 12 points. Also for Madelia, Alicia Lugo had 9 points, 13 rebounds and four steals, while Katherine DeVlaeminck had 12 rebounds, 6 points, six blocks and four assists, Lauryn Grev had nine rebounds and two blocks and Corban Tatro had five rebounds.

Madelia (1-1) hosts Nicollet on Saturday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Wabasso 72,

Cleveland 49

WABASSO — Wabasso opened its season with a home invite and cruised by Cleveland 72-49 on Thursday in nonconference boys basketball action.

Tristen Larson led Rabbits in the win with 16 points, while Joe Liebl had 15 points, Ashton Rohlik had 11 points and Christian Sanow had 10. Karson Bock added 9 points for Wabasso also.

Wabasso continues play in its home invite Friday.

Mankato Loyola 81,

Madelia 33

MANKATO — Mankato Loyola downed Madelia 81-33 on Thursday in a season-opening Valley Conference boys basketball game.

Tony Zaleski led Madelia with 12 points and five steals, while Eric Anderson added 11 points.

Madelia (0-1, 0-1) hosts Nicollet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

MCW 61, Nicollet 26

NICOLLET — Martin County West defeated Nicollet 61-26 on Thursday night in a season-opening Valley Conference boys basketball game.

Grant Bruns led Nicollet with 11 points, while Cody Strunk added 9 points.

Nicollet (0-1, 0-1) is at Madelia for a 5:30 p.m. game Saturday.

GIRLS HOCKEY

New Ulm 2, Marshall 1

MARSHALL — Back-to-back goals lifted the New Ulm Eagles by Marshall 2-1 on Thursday in a Big South Conference girls hockey game.

Marshall opened the scoring with a goal 2:33 into the second period before Afton Hulke tied the game on a goal assisted by Jocelyn Peterson at the 10:40 mark of the second period. Tristyn Wolner then had an unassisted goal to give New Ulm its 2-1 lead 16:54 into the second.

New Ulm hosts Hutchinson on Tuesday.