SLEEPY EYE — The unbeaten Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Mustangs made 18 free throws in a 77-68 come-from-behind win over the Sleepy Eye Indians Tuesday night in a Tomahawk Conference girls basketball game.

BLHS is now 10-0 on the season overall and 6-0 in the conference.

Sleepy Eye led by as much as 48-41 on Breaunna Mertz’ basket in the middle of the second half. Kadence Hesse’s 2 made it 57-54 Sleepy Eye before the Mustangs heated up. Another Hesse basket tied the score at 64 before the Mustangs went on a 6-0 run with under two minutes left.

“There were stretches when we cooled off, but we persevered,” BLHS head coach Jesse Weick said. “We’re a guard-dominated team. Our bench really came up big for us tonight with some big baskets and good defense.”

The Mustangs list all their varsity players as guards.

“Our shooting was cold for a little while,” said Sleepy Eye head coach Sarah Hesse.

The Indians attempted just nine free throws in the game.

The Mustangs led 18-9 before Mertz got hot, canning a 2, a 3-point basket, a putback and another triple for a 10-0 run as the Indians led 19-18.

Sleepy Eye went on an 11-0 run for a 30-20 lead with 3:27 left in the first half. 

The Mustangs rallied, taking an 11-2 run to pull within 32-31 at intermission on Kristi Kottke’s 3-point basket. BLHS has just one senior, Allison Milbrandt, their tallest player at 5-11.

The Indians, who have no seniors, enjoyed balanced scoring with four players in double figures.

Kadence Hesse had 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals to lead the Indians, while Jazzibelle Martinez had 13 points, Mertz had 12 points, six rebounds and six assists and Paige Haala had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Cadence Okerman added 6 points, five rebounds and five assists for Sleepy Eye, while Brissa Hernandez had 6 points and seven rebounds.

Sleepy Eye, now 10-5 overall and in the conference, plays at Springfield Friday. BLHS hosts Cedar Mountaon on Friday.