JWP boys upset unbeaten BEA, but fall to USC

It was about as much of an up-and-down week as it could get for JWP’s boys’ basketball team. After hosting an undefeated Blue Earth Area team and upsetting them 62-54, United South Central soared to an easy 65-53 win at Wells.

Bulldogs 62, BEA 54

The boys put the upset into motion, putting together one of their better offensive performances in the season.

“It was a nice win for us,” coach Nick James said. “I felt it was our best effort of the season to this point on both sides of the ball.”

James felt like the game’s result started with how well the defense did. “We held them to 16 in the first half, with their best player only scoring three points,” he explained. “In the second half, everyone stepped up to carry the load on offense. Tonight, we had six guys score six or more points.”

Freshman Daulton Bauer led the team with 14 points, with Memphis James not too far behind with 11. Other contributors were Landon Johnson, Caleb Quast, and Ryan Kronbach with 8 points each, Cole Schleter with 6 points, Austin Quast with 4 points, and Ethan Born with 1 point.

USC 65, Bulldogs 53

This game can be summed up in two words: mentally unprepared. 

While the score makes it look like the boys took a typical road loss to a conference opponent, that wasn’t the case. Six minutes into the first half, they were behind 25-3. The three points were a free throw by sophomore Austin Quast and a two-pointer by Bauer.

James wasn’t sure what happened.

“I’m not sure if we just had some tired legs from the previous night or what, but I do think USC wanted it more to start the game,” he said.

USC’s defense was unrelenting, leading to a 36-12 lead at the half. The boys miraculously outscored them 41-29 in the second half, cutting down the lead to single digits late into the game But with the lead so wide for the Rebels and the occasional controversial call against JWP, it was just not in the cards.”

Bauer led the team with 19 points. James had 13, Caleb Quast supplied 8, Schlueter 7, Quast 4, and Kronbach 2.

The 1-1 week resulted in a 5-4 overall record for the boys (2-1 in conference). They hosted WEM Jan. 10 before starting a five-game road trip at Maple River Friday.

“It’s going to be a tough stretch for us,” James commented. “Each of them is a big game. All we can do is take one game at a time.”