Zach Anderson
NICOLLET — The Class 1A, No. 9-ranked Martin County West Mavericks tipped off the boys basketball season with a runaway 61-26 Valley Conference triumph over the Nicollet Raiders on Thursday night in Nicollet.
The Mavericks, who buried 8 of 20 shots from behind the 3-point arc, built a 39-12 halftime advantage and never looked back.
Zach Anderson tossed in a game-leading 21 points, including 19 during the first half, and grabbed a game-best eight rebounds to pace the Mavericks’ winning ways.
Mitchell Weber connected for 15 points and distributed a game-high six assists for MCW, while Raef Omvig contributed six points to the opening victory.
Harrison Rathmann cleared the boards for seven rebounds for the Mavericks, while teammate Jamesson Forsberg led the defense by pocketing three steals.
The Mavericks made 14 of 25 shots from 2-point range and just 5 of 10 at the free throw line.
Grant Bruns netted 11 points to top Nicollet, which made only 1 of 7 at the charity stripe. The Raiders connected on 5 of 22 shots from 2-point distance and 5 of 25 from bonus range.
Martin County West (1-0) travels to Class 1A, No. 1-ranked Hayfield tonight in a non-league showdown.
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Blue Earth Area 67, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 45 — Abram Kokos netted 15 points to top a balanced Buc offensive attack en route to BEA coasting to a 22-point nonconference triumph over the Panthers on Thursday night in New Richland.
Kokos also pulled down six rebounds and distributed three assists to go with his team-high point production.
Ashton Lloyd tipped off the season with a double-double performance of 12 points and a game-best 13 rebounds to complement doling out four assists for BEA.
Will Bromeland delivered 12 points and three assists for the Bucs, while Austin Skaden collected 10 points and pocketed four steals. Gage Barker supplied eight points, Jack Norman tallied six points and Max Loge doled out three assists.
The Bucs made 25 of 57 field goals, including 10 of 27 from 3-point range, and sank 7 of 10 free throws on the night.
Lloyd paced the Bucs’ 37-25 rebounding advantage.
Blue Earth Area (1-0) travels to Jackson County Central on Saturday.
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Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 62, Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther 37 — Zack Wells poured in a game-leading 20 points to steer the Knights to a 25-point Valley Conference victory over the Jaguars on Thursday night in Truman.
Jakob Fischer produced a double-double effort of 11 points and 10 rebounds to complement garnering five steals to pace the Jaguars.
Jackson Madsen collected eight points and four rebounds for the Jaguars, while teammate Tyson Meinert chipped in seven points.
The Jaguars (0-1) play host to Mankato Loyola on Tuesday night in Granada.
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Girls Basketball
St. Peter 70, Hutchinson 62 — Rhyan Holmgren erupted for a game-best 36 points to power the Class 3A, No. 8-ranked Saints to an eight-point nonconference win over the Tigers on Thursday night in Hutchinson.
Annika Southworth poured in 20 points for St. Peter.
Brynn Beffert tallied 31 points to pace Hutchinson.
St. Peter faces Grand Rapids at 3 p.m. Saturday in Hopkins.