BENSON -- Paynesville got its game going just in time to edge MACCRAY, 53-48, to win the Benson Invitational title in boys basketball action Saturday.
The unbeaten Bulldogs (3-0) held a 6-0 lead to start the game, then trailed until just before there was two minutes left in the second half.
Nathan Nietfeld scored 12 of his game-high 22 points to spur the Bulldogs, who trailed 29-25 at halftime, in game's final 18 minutes.
The tournament Most Valuable Player also grabbed 16 of Paynesville's 42 rebounds for a double-double.
Alex Svejkovsky scored seven pounds and had 12 boards. Mitchell Marlow made both of the Bulldogs' three-pointers and had 10 points.
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Tyler Dammann paced the Wolverines with 15 points and Shaun Condon followed with 10 points. Jay Hilbrands had eight rebounds and five assists.
In the third-place game, Benson saw a 15-point lead nearly slip away in the second half, but held on to beat Hancock, 77-74, as Aaron Lindahl poured in a game-high 38 points.
Derrick Foss also scored 38 points for Hancock in the loss.
Championship
Paynesville 53, MACCRAY 48
MACCRAY (3-2) 29 19 -- 48
Paynesville (3-0) 25 28 -- 53
MACCRAY - 23-47 FG (4-13 3-pt); 8-13 FT; 26 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: J.B. Damons 7, Brock Madsen 6, Jay Hilbrands 4, Jordan Smith 2, Tyler Dammann 15, Ben Ruter 4, Shaun Condon 10 ... 3-point shots: Damons 1, Madsen 1, Dammann 1, Condon 1 ... Rebound leaders: Hilbrands 8 ... Assist leaders: Hilbrands 5 ... Steal leaders: Damons 3, Madsen 3, Hilbrands 3
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PAYNESVILLE - 22-59 FG (2-19 3-pt); 7-12 FT; 42 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Mitchell Marlow 10, Ted Hoffman 4, Jamison Wall 6, Nathan Nietfeld 22, Shane Kampsen 4, Alex Svejkovsky 7 ... 3-point shots: Marlow 2 ... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 16, Svejkovsky 12 ... Assist leaders: Colin Spooner 7 ... Steal leaders: Marlow 3
Benson 77, Hancock 74
Benson's Aaron Lindahl and Hancock's Derrick Foss each scored 38 points to lead their respective teams.
The Braves' advantage came from the free-throw line, where they made 13 of 23. The Owls were 6 of 13.
Lindahl also led Benson with eight rebounds and three steals. Brennan Kent added 11 points and Mitchell Kent dished out 10 assists.
Andrew Evink posted a double-double for Hancock with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Foss also had a double-double with 14 rebounds.
Hancock (0-2) 31 43 -- 74
Benson (1-2) 46 31 -- 77
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HANCOCK - 32-82 FG (4-24 3-pt); 6-13 FT; 49 rebounds; 21 fouls ... Scoring: Derrick Foss 38, Josh Tucker 2, Brendan Foss 8, Cory Schroeder 5, Tanner Gramm 6, Andrew Evink 10, Nathan Dahlman 3, Austin Schmidgall 2 ... 3-point shots: D.Foss 3, B.Foss 1 ... Rebound leaders: Evink 17, D.Foss 14 ... Assist leaders: Gramm 9 ... Steal leaders: Gramm 5
BENSON - 29-65 FG (4-11 3-pt); 13-23 FT; 26 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Peter Hughes 4, Dan Martin 4, Brennan Kent 11, Aaron Lindahl 38, Andrew Simmonds 7, Mitchell Kent 9, Steven James 4 ... 3-point shots: B.Kent 1, Lindahl 3 ... Rebound leaders: Lindahl 8, Simmonds 5, M.Kent 5 ... Assist leaders: M.Kent 10 ... Steal leaders: Lindahl 3
