Southwest Minnesota Christian and Murray County Central achieved convincing victories in their respective quarterfinal matchups of the Section 3A South tournament on Saturday at Worthington High School. The second-seeded Eagles and third-seeded Rebels both showcased their dominance, setting the stage for a semifinal showdown on Tuesday at WHS.
The Eagles, boasting a 23-4 record, had previously swept the Rebels in their regular season encounters, winning by an average margin of 16.5 points. In their quarterfinal game, Southwest Minnesota Christian delivered a commanding performance against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, while Murray County Central, with an 18-6 record, secured their spot by defeating Westbrook-Walnut Grove 62-42.
Southwest Minnesota Christian”s offense was spearheaded by junior Josiah Hoftyzer, who was nearly unstoppable, pouring in 35 points, including 27 in the first half along with seven three-pointers. Hoftyzer described his performance, saying, “Normally, I play a lot more down low, but today, I was just shooting really good, which helped me all around.” After a brief struggle, the Eagles rallied from an 8-6 deficit, launching a 13-0 run that included a three-pointer from Ryan Pap, which effectively shifted the momentum in their favor. They maintained a substantial lead, heading into halftime with a score of 53-30.
Coach Matt Vande Kamp emphasized the team”s fast-paced style of play, stating, “It”s something we”ve practiced since, I mean, this group”s been in seventh grade. We want to play fast, and it”s a lot of fun to watch.” The Eagles continued to apply pressure in the second half, starting with a 13-2 run, which further extended their lead. Their active defense also contributed to the victory, forcing numerous turnovers that resulted in fast-break points.
Hoftyzer”s final three-pointer capped the scoring at 77-37, allowing both teams to send in reserves for the remainder of the match. Pap finished the game with 25 points, while Zachary Moss added 10. For the Panthers, Griffin Zick led with 19 points, concluding their season with a record of 12-16.
On the other side of the bracket, Murray County Central took control right from the start against Westbrook-Walnut Grove, racing out to an 11-0 lead. Their balanced offensive attack featured strong performances from senior post Aidan Swenson, who scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, helping the Rebels to a 31-13 halftime advantage. Coach Tim Cariveau praised his team”s execution, saying, “We were able to execute some things that we saw that we thought would work for us.”
The Chargers struggled to match the Rebels” size and execution. Although they had some open looks, they failed to convert, which hindered their chances of closing the gap. Cariveau noted, “Defensively, I thought we made them earn it for the most part.”
In the second half, MCC extended their lead with a 12-5 run, and a three-pointer from Tayden Beerman pushed their advantage to 23 points. The Rebels ultimately secured a 21-point victory, with Behrends contributing 16 points and three assists. The Rebels dominated the boards, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds and shooting 41% from the floor, compared to Westbrook-Walnut Grove”s 25%.
As Murray County Central looks ahead to their semifinal matchup with Southwest Minnesota Christian, they are buoyed by their recent success and the return to health of key players. “We know what we”re going to get with Southwest, and it is tough,” Cariveau acknowledged. “We”ve got to mentally be completely locked in for the entire game.”
