BOYS BASKETBALL: Bemidji falls again, this time to state-ranked Columbia Heights
OAKDALE – Bemidji stayed close with the No. 8 team in Class 3A, but ultimately Columbia Heights wore out the Lumberjacks.
The Hylanders defeated the Lumberjacks 82-73 in the consolation semifinal game at the Tartan Tournament Friday night.
“We were competitive, and our defense forced a lot of turnovers to keep us in it,” BHS head coach Dan Ninham said. “But a lot of the time we matched them turnover for turnover, which isn’t good.”
The Hylanders (5-2) led the Lumberjacks 43-34 at halftime and Bemidji (0-7) was never able to close the gap.
“Our ballhandling still needs to improve,” Ninham said of his young Lumberjacks squad that was without point guard Richard Seado to begin with. “And tonight it was close, but at crunch time we just didn’t do it.”
Jeremiah Huseby led the Lumberjacks in scoring with 17 points, while Jaylen Ingalls added 16 and Connor McNallan 14 for BHS.
The Hylanders had four players in double figures, including Jarret Baptiste, who scored 17.
The Lumberjacks will play for seventh place today still looking for their first win. They will take on Spring Lake Park at 2:45 p.m. Spring Lake Park fell to Bloomington Kennedy in the other consolation semifinal.
Columbia Heights 82, Bemidji 73
Bemidji (73) – Baumgartner 6, McNallan 14, Strong 3, Ingalls 16, Hendricks 9, Misco 8, Huesby 17. Totals 26 12-24 73.
Columbia Heights (82) – Scott 7, Sanstad 2, Creamer 2, Galloway 8, Williams 16, Anwey 10, Dixon 4, Baptiste 17, Bauswell 11, Moghul 5. Totals 26 9-14 82.
3-point goals – Bemidji 3, Columbia Heights 7
Halftime Score – Columbia Heights 43, Bemidji 34
