Bethlehem Academy Boys Win Double Overtime Thriller Over Medford

The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals and Medford Tigers clashed Friday like Rocky and Apollo Creed in the first Rocky movie.  The Cardinals came out on top after two overtimes 79-76.  Bethlehem Academy had a 34-30 lead at the half.  Noah Pirkl led the Tigers with 28 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds while playing over 41 minutes.

The Cardinals had four players in double figures led by senior Jack Clark with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists.  Senior Damon Trump scored 12 points with 7 assists and 9 rebounds.  Freshman Brady Strodtman tallied 16 points with four three point baskets and added 4 rebounds.  Senior Griffin Malecha added 11 points, 3 assists and two boards.

Bethlehem Academy had 11 three point baskets from 5 different players.  Medford collected 6 three point baskets.  The Cardinals were 16 of 21 at the free throw line and Tigers 14 of 18.

Both teams had trouble guarding the long range shot with BA shooting 41 percent and Medford 40 percent from beyond the three point line.  The Tigers had 37 rebounds, Cardinals 35.  Bethlehem Academy had 12 offensive rebounds compared to Medford's 6.

The Tigers shot 55 percent from the field and Cardinals 37 percent.

Meanwhile the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers pulled into a tie for first place in the Gopher Conference with a 54-51 win over Hayfield.  The Bucs had a 27-23 halftime lead and the difference in the game was 5 three point baskets by WEM and 4 by Hayfield.  Viking senior Mason Tapp led all scorers with 21 points.  Bladyn Bartelt led WEM with 20 points and Tanner Ranslow added 13 points.

Other area games and there were some thrillers.

• Rochester Century 93  Northfield 89  (overtime) (Jack Fisher 37 points for Century, Mason Zick 31 points 10 rebounds, Blake Christenson 16 points, Mitchell Stanchina 16 points for Raiders.  Northfield 11, Century 10 three point baskets)
• Rochester Mayo 86  Faribault 69
• Albert Lea 78  Owatonna 54
• John Marshall 65  Winona 58  (Matthew Hurt 41 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists)
• Austin 77  Mankato West 44
• Blooming Prairie 71  NRHEG 51
• Maple River 75  United South Central 54
• Cannon Falls 72  Kenyon-Wanamingo 54
• Goodhue 41  Triton 29
• Lake City 52  Byron 37
• Stewartville 65  Kasson-Mantorville 43
• Waseca 93  Blue Earth Area 53
• New Prague 68  Hutchinson 49
• Spring Grove 63  Mabel-Canton 31
• Lakeville North 92  Eastview 69
• Rosemount 54  Lakeville South 52
• Burnsville 68  Eagan 57
• Prior Lake 72  Shakopee 70
• Dover-Eyota 76  Zumbrota-Mazeppa 51
• Grand Meadow 81  Leroy-Ostrander 67
• Houston 56  Lanesboro 51
• LaCrescent 72  Rushford-Peterson 62
• Lewiston-Altura 52  Wabasha-Kellogg 46
• Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 56  Cleveland 51
• Schaeffer Academy 50  Lyle/Pacelli 47
• Rochester Lourdes 67  Pine Island 50
• Plainview-Elgin-Millville 86  Fillmore Central 45
• Martin County West 62  St. Clair 58