It was a real tough draw on Tuesday night for the Prescott Boys Varsity Basketball team as they travelled to number six ranked Saint Croix Central to take on the Panthers in a Middle Border Conference showdown. Prescott entered the game with a 6-3 overall record and a 3-1 conference record. St. Croix Central countered with a 6-1 overall record and a 3-0 mark in conference. The Panthers were looking for revenge after losing three times last year to Prescott, including the last game of the season in the Section Semifinal before the coronavirus put an end to the season.

Prescott started out fast taking an 8-5 lead. As they have done all season the Cardinals struck from behind the arc twice early. The St. Croix Central defense then clamped down on Prescott taking a lead as big as 16 points in the first half. Prescott would trim the lead to 10 and trail 34-24 at the half. Saint Croix Central would then go on a run to start the second half, quickly putting the game out of reach. The Panthers would win 69-42, holding the Cardinals to a season low point total. Prescott would turn the ball over 21 times and shoot just 33% from the field in the loss.

Jordan Malmlov, the leading scorer in the Middle Border Conference, would again lead the way scoring 19 points. Aiden Russell added 11 points, Dallas Wallin scored four points and added five steals, Teddy Huppert chipped in with four points and five rebounds, Philip Seifert had two points, Danner Dalman and Damion Huppert scored one point each, and Justin Syverson did not score but had a team high tying five rebounds.

Even in the loss, Prescott still has a respectable 6-4 overall record and a 3-2 record in conference. The conference mark has Prescott in 4th place in the Middle Border Conference and still in striking distance of the leaders. The Cardinals have played a tough schedule thus far in the season, and now will start a string of games against teams who are below them in the standings. The first game is next Tuesday against Amery at the Nest. Amery has started out 1-4 in conference play and has only scored 40 points or more twice this season. After Amery, Prescott will have a home and home series with Baldwin-Woodville who also has a 1-4 conference record.

Photos by Jack McLoone.