MANKATO — We have a championship game set for Monday night.
No. 9 Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton and Maple River boy’s basketball each won their semifinal games in the 2025 Kwik Trip Holiday Tournament Saturday at Bethany Lutheran College. Htere’s what went down.
No. 9 Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 83 New Ulm 76
Sophomore Gavin Bauer and senior Dalton Bauer provided yet another 1-2 punch the opposition couldn’t handle.
The tandem combined for 54 points as the Bulldogs improved to flawless 9-0 for the season while reaching the championship game for the second-straight season.
The Bulldogs punching their ticket back to the title game, however, was anything but easy.
JWP erased an eight-point deficit to walk into halftime eleven at 42. But the Bulldogs push to open the final 18 minutes proved to be the difference.
The Eagles were forced to burn a timeout in hopes of siphoning the Bulldogs run which led to a 56-50 lead with 12:13 to go. It didn’t work, and JWP’s lead reached 13 points.
Yet, with 1:37 to go New Ulm was breathing down the Bulldogs neck heavily. A 13-point lead turned into a 74-72 advantage. But the Bulldogs pulled away late from the free throw line to seal the win. Dalton Bauer led the Bulldogs with 31 points, including 16 in the second half, while adding five rebounds and five assists.
Gavin Bauer dropped 18 of his 23 points in the second half while producing eight rebounds and four assists. Caleb Quast scored 11 points and snagged five rebounds.
Maple River 62 Minnesota Valley Lutheran 42
Maple River wasted no time in punching its ticket to the championship game, exploding to claim a double-digit lead into halftime and never looking back.
Cole Davis led the Eagles and all players with 21 points. Zach Trio netted 17 points and Emery Stevens added 12 points
Pierson Brau each had 10 points for the Chargers.
Consolation action Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 78 St. Clair 54
LCWM saw Brayden Mathews drop 23 points with five 3-pointers. Colton Buss added 22 points. Carter Lowis earned a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Braxton Dudgeon chipped in with 10 points.
St. Clair saw Austin Ward tally 23 points and Sam Freitag finish with 20 points.
Fairmont 63 Mankato Loyola 48
Joseph Hackett led Fairmont with 17 points and Brayden Williamson added 13 points. Covin Winter led the Crusaders with 13 points.
Monday’s schedule Seventh place game
Mankato Loyola vs St. Clair, 6 p.m., Younge Gym
Consolation championship game
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial vs Fairmont, 8 p.m., Younge Gym
Third place game
New Ulm vs Minnesota Valley Lutheran, 6:30 p.m., North Gym
Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton vs Maple River, 8:30 p.m., North Gym