Boys Basketball: Cougars with hot hand in HVL Blue win

Cannon Falls left Zumbrota-Mazeppa’s Kevin Niebuhr open for two 3-pointers late in the first half of Friday’s game and it proved costly.

Niebuhr and the rest of the Cougars caught fire in the second half, putting in 47 points, defeating the Bombers 74-50 in Zumbrota.

“It started at the end of the first half,” Cannon Falls head coach Josh Davisson said of the Bombers’ downfall. “We left Niebuhr wide open for a couple 3’s and then we gave up an offensive rebounds and a bucket before the half.”

Niebuhr finished with 27 points on 10 of 12 shooting and 14 rebounds for Z-M. Nathaniel Rauen had 20 points, five rebounds and four steals while Lucas Ziemba compiled 19 points, two rebounds and five assists in the victory. The Cougars (11-8, 7-2 HVL Blue) shot 50 percent for the game and knocked down 16 of 22 free-throw attempts.

Cannon Falls (12-9, 8-3 HVL Blue) was led by Noah Callister with 14 points and six rebounds. Brock Peterson added 10 points, three rebounds and four assists and Alex Bultena had eight points. Jordan Lundell dealt with foul trouble most of the game and scored six points. The Bombers shot just 37 percent from the field and 4 of 18 from behind the 3-point line.

Both teams are back in action today with Z-M traveling to face Pine Island at 3 p.m. and Cannon Falls hosting Blue Earth Area at 7 p.m.

Tags: boys basketball, cannon falls, sports, prep, zumbrota, mazeppa