Boys basketball: Tigers turn things around

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The Farmington boys basketball team found a couple of different ways to win last week.

The Tigers used a big offensive night to secure their first Missota Conference win of the season last Tuesday in Tiger Gym, putting four players in double figures in a 70-67 triumph over Holy Angels. Three nights later, it was the team’s defense that stepped up in a 58-47 road win at rival Northfield.

The Tigers have won 4 of 6 games since starting the season 2-7. They are alone in third place in the Missota Conference standings at 2-1, a game behind 3-0 teams Chanhassen and New Prague.

Northfield led 12-11 Friday night before the visitors put together an 11-0 run and took a 28-22 lead into the break. The Tigers pulled ahead by as many as 14 points in the second half, but saw that dwindle down to six before baskets by Jake Hanson, Mac Bassett and Darren Beenken closed the door on a Raider rally.

Beenken broke 20 points for the fourth time this season, scoring a game-high 21. He leads the team with an average of 16.3 per game.

Hanson added 10 points, Bassett scored eight and Tom Sell tacked on six points and six rebounds.

Nick Varner was held to two points, 10 below his season average, but hauled in a team-best 11 rebounds.

Varner proved difficult to stop for Holy Angels last Tuesday. He registered a double-double, dropping in a game-high 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Beenken finished with 15 points, Alex Chadwick scored 12 and Bassett 10. Zach Speikers came off the bench to contribute nine points.

The Tigers moved ahead 36-30 by halftime and never trailed in the second half.

The Tigers hosted Chaska Tuesday night and are back on the road tomorrow night when they travel to New Prague. The 11-4 Trojans have won four straight.

Tags: boys basketball, sports, farmington, tigers, prep