Dylan Graff puts up a floater over a JWP defender.
Thursday and Friday, the Le Sueur-Henderson boys basketball team took part in the 2022 Tri-City United Holiday Tournament featuring six boys teams and girls teams including the Giants. Thursday, LS-H faced off against JWP and ultimately fell to the Bulldogs 71-52 before Friday’s matchup with the Waseca Bluejays that resulted in a 76-42 loss.
With the losses, the Giants fall to 1-5 (0-2 MRC) on the season. LS-H is scheduled to return to the hardwood Tuesday, Jan. 3 when the team travels to take on Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.
Logan Feeney drives to the hoop through defensive contact. (Ben Camp photos/Southernminn.com)
Game 1: JWP — 71, LS-H — 52
The game opened with the teams trading baskets resulting in a 9-9 tie five minutes into the contest, but it would be the Bulldogs who got the first big run of the day with a 10-2 offensive outburst. The run was fueled by the JWP defense forcing turnovers while the team managed out consistently out-rebound LS-H on both ends.
The Giants were ultimately able to keep the game within reach though as they managed to pound the paint on offense and limit any additional runs. With a tip-in at the buzzer for Dylan Graff, LS-H cut the JWP lead to 33-26 going into the locker room.
The Bulldogs quickly rolled out of the break with a 9-0 run, forcing the Giants to use a timeout and the game would never be in question again. Every time that LS-H would make a run, JWP had the answer as they held on for the victory.
Cayden Luna Drives past the defender on the left side of the paint.
Game 2: Waseca — 76, LS-H — 42
Friday’s game with the Bluejays saw the Giants post a trio of double-digit scorers but the Waseca offense proved to have too much firepower. A 54-23 halftime lead would prove enough for the Bluejays to eventually hold off any attempts at a comeback.
Dylan Graff led the Giants in scoring with 11 points while Cayden Luna and Brody Berndt each added 10 points.
