The Road to Success [Prep Roundup, Jan 23]

Home court and home ice didn't hold much water on Saturday. In four games involving Owatonna High School teams, the road team won each one. Girls hockey won at Mankato East 5-3. The OHS boys lost at home to top-20 East/Loyola 5-2. OHS girls basketball dropped a 67-52 game to top-20 John Marshall. While the Husky boys won at JM 58-22.

In the boys hoops game, OHS jumped out to a big lead early, hitting four of their first five attempts from three-point ranged and building a 20-3 lead before the Rockets hit their first field goal with 7:30 to go in the first half.

Brayden Williams and Blake Burmeister sparked the early onslaught. Williams drilled five three's in the game among his 19 total points. Burmeister scored eight first-half points. Evan Dushek scored 16 in his first extending minutes of the season. Owatonna (2-1) hosts Mayo Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30 pm with coverage on AM 1390 KRFO and 94.7 FM. (Final: Owatonna 58, JM 22)

The OHS girls closed strong against No. 19 John Marshall, losing 67-52, but trailed by more than 20 at one time. Future Division I players Lilly Meister (27 points) and Katie Hurt (16) led the Rockets. Lexi Mendenhall impressed with 22 points for OHS. Holly Buytaert added 11. The Huskies (1-2) go to Mayo Tuesday with the call on Kat Kounty 105 FM. (Final: JM 67, OHS 52)

Owatonna girls hockey improved to 3-0 with a 5-3 win versus East at All Seasons Arena in Mankato. Ezra Oien converted a penalty shot in the second period. The Huskies host Red Wing Tuesday.

The Owatonna boys lost to No. 13 Mankato East/Loyola 5-2 on Dudley Otto Rink at the Four Seasons Centre. East scored four goals in the second period and outshot the Huskies 32-18 on the afternoon. OHS (2-1) hosts Northfield Thursday, January 28.

On Friday, the Owatonna wrestlers were locked in a great battle with ranked Watertown-Mayer. The Huskies closed with a pin from Abe Stockwell to tie the meet at 32-32. WM earned the win on criteria. Check out the story.

Scoreboard for Saturday, January 23
Boys basketball
Owatonna 58, Rochester JM 22
Austin 61, Mankato West 52
Rochester Century 73, Albert Lea 31
Rochester Mayo 68, Northfield 58
St. Clair 84, WEM 54

Girls basketball
Rochester JM 67, Owatonna 52
Mankato West 61, Austin 39
Rochester Century 56, Albert Lea 47
Rochester Lourdes 59, Cannon Falls 32
Rochester Mayo 65, Northfield 45

Boys hockey
Mankato East 5, Owatonna 2
Albert Lea 4, Winona 0
Maple Grove 12, Dodge County 1
Northfield 6, Rochester JM 0
Red Wing 6, Austin 2
Rochester Mayo 2, Rochester Century 1

Girls hockey
Owatonna 5, Mankato East 3
Dodge County 5, Moose Lake 1