Owatonna Beats Albert Lea, Fights Cancer

The most important number Friday night at the Owatonna High School gym may have been 2,766. That's how much money was raised in support of the Steele County Relay for Life. Jon Osmundson was the honoree for the annual Coaches vs Cancer game.

In the game itself, Owatonna downed Albert Lea 77-65 for their sixth win in their last eight games. Evan Dushek scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Brayden Williams added 21 points, 17 of those in the first half. Isaac Oppegard scored 12, all of them in the second half. Nolan Burmeister had ten points and five boards and earned the TPS Insurance Player of the Game award.

The Huskies (9-8 overall, 7-6 Big Nine) host Red Wing Tuesday, February 4 before facing Rochester Mayo Friday, February 7 on the road and a makeup game at Mankato West Saturday, February 8.

The Owatonna girls won a thriller at Albert Lea 56-53 in overtime Friday night to earn a season split with the Tigers. Holly Buytaert hit a shot in the closing seconds to force the extra session and had 17 on the night. Sarah Kingland scored six of her 17 points in overtime, including four out of five at the free throw line.

The Huskies travel to highly ranked Red Wing Tuesday, February 4 with coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM and the Kat Kountry 105 app. OHS will host Rochester Mayo Friday, February 7. The team will hold a fundraiser for Rachel's Light versus Mayo.

In other action Friday, Medford basketball swept games from Bethlehem Academy. The NRHEG girls upset Blooming Prairie 58-55. The Panther boys won at BP 70-34. Zumbrota-Mazeppa edged the Triton girls 80-78 and beat the Cobra boys 73-56.