Jaguars Struggle Against Stout Windom Defense: Key Highlights and Insights

Granda-Huntley East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther’s Bryce Borkenhagen faces strong defense as he drives to the basket against Windom.

TRUMAN – On Friday night, the Granada-Huntley East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther Jaguars faced a tough challenge. They lost 94-66 to the Windom Eagles in a hard-fought nonconference boys basketball game.

The Jaguars struggled in the first half, scoring only 18 points. Their offense couldn’t keep up with Windom’s fast-paced, man-to-man defense.

Head coach Brian Borkenhagen noted, “This is a good team that’s improving. But we need to execute better against high-pressure defenses. This was the first time we faced one this intense.” He pointed out that despite a slow start, the team scored 48 points in the second half, a significant improvement.

Jackson Madsen led the Jaguars with 19 points. Brody Grathwohl added 15, while Eli Jensen scored 9. Bryce Borkenhagen and Alex Benck each contributed 6 points, and Ethan Jaskulke chipped in 4.

The game started with Windom showcasing their shooting ability. Charles Erickson hit a long three-pointer, giving the Eagles an early lead. The Jaguars quickly responded with Grathwohl’s three, but Windom pulled ahead with a strong 12-0 run, leaving the score at 17-5.

With the game feeling physical, Grathwohl’s floater snapped the Jaguars’ scoring drought, but Windom continued to stretch their lead. By halftime, Windom had hit five three-pointers, extending their lead to 55-18.

After the break, the Jaguars returned energized. Bryce Borkenhagen hit a three, igniting a better offensive effort. They contested Windom’s shots and found better chances inside. Although the Jaguars cut into the lead, they faced a tall order with the score at 73-43 as the clock wound down.

In the closing minutes, players like Jensen, Jaskulke, and Reagan Emmert added points, showing the Jaguars’ determination to fight until the end.

Now, with a record of 10-13 overall and 6-6 in conference play, the Jaguars will host Cedar Mountain for an evening game on Tuesday.