HUTCHINSON — Despite facing a three-goal deficit heading into the final period of play on Saturday against Hutchinson, the Marshall boys hockey team showed no signs of quitting. The Tigers scored three unanswered goals to tie up the game but ultimately fell 4-3.

Luke Ehlers scored the game’s tying goal five minutes into the third period, unassisted. Hutchinson’s Emmett Reiter, however, had other plans. He finished off a feed from Matthew May for the game-winner and his second goal of the night with seven minutes left.

Ehlers’ tying goal was also his second goal of the night, after he had scored two minutes prior to the equalizer. Ehlers is tied with Jacob Johnson for a team-high 18 goals. The defenseman’s 31 points are also shy only of forward Owen Renslow’s 47.

Carson Kopitski ended Marshall’s scoring drought just over a minute into the third period. Hutchinson was called for a tripping minor in the game’s first minute and Marshall capitalized, with Renslow and Tyler Welsh assisting Kopitski’s goal to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Nathan Lenz saved 16 of the 20 shots he faced in goal for Marshall. For Hutchinson, Lukas Heilman saved 23 of 26, good for an 89% save rate.

Hudson Lien got Hutchinson on the board with four minutes left in the first period, assisted by Manny Pearce. After the teams went scoreless for the next 15 minutes, Pearce got on the board with an unassisted goal of his own to start the second period and Reiter scored off an assist from Nathan Thode in the waning minutes of the frame to send Hutchinson into the third period with a 3-0 lead.

Marshall falls to 10-13 overall with the loss. With just two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Marshall will look to get close to .500 heading into the postseason when it goes on the road to take on Worthington on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

PREP BOYS

BASKETBALL

Marshall 59,

Hutchinson 37

HUTCHINSON –The Marshall boys basketball team’s defense set the tone for the Tigers’ 72-37 win over Hutchinson on Monday. Marshall held the visiting Tigers to a 27.9% effective field goal percentage and pulled away early for the win.

Cooper Mensink led Marshall with a game-high 22 points on 9 of 19 shooting while Alex Franson added 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting. Jack Meier and Ethan Bly contributed 10 and 7 points respectively.

Mensink also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as Marshall outrebounded Hutchinson 36-23. Mensink’s six offensive rebounds also paced the Tigers to a 19-5 edge on the offensive boards.

Ball security was key for Marshall, who turned the ball over three times while forcing 14 giveaways out of Hutchinson.

Mensink logged four steals and a pair of blocks for the Tigers while Davion Xayarath added another block.

Marshall improves to 15-6 with the win and will look to earn its third consecutive victory tonight at 7:15 p.m., when it hosts Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta (14-6)

AROUND THE AREA

Prep boys basketball

Monday’s games

BOLD 75, Minneota 54

Saturday’s games

Pipestone 59, RTR 56

TMB 59, WWG 54

Prep girls basketball

Monday’s games

Minneota 59, RCW 46

TMB 54, YME 42

Lakeview 57, Canby 43

SWMC at MCC, late

CMC 75, Dawson-Boyd 29

NUC 43, RRC 29

Saturday’s games

Pipestone 71, RTR 40

WWG 47, TMB 36

NCAA mens basketball

Saturday’s games

Winona State 66, SMSU 59