MAPLETON &8212; Sixth-ranked Maple River proved to be too much for the Alden-Conger boys&8217; basketball team, but the Knights didn&8217;t shy away from the challenge.

A-C played virtually even with Maple River after halftime but still fell 87-60.

The lead was just six points until the eight minute mark of the first half when Maple River went on a run to take control of the game before halftime.

Sam Hallman led the Knights with 21 points, Paul Little added 15 and Anthony Wittmer had eight.

&8220;We played tough defense in the second half and they were only able to increase the lead by three points,&8221; A-C head coach Bill Hintz said. &8220;Paul is scoring more for us because he is putting his head down and driving to the basket and getting to the line.&8221;

A-C finished the night going 13-for-20 at the free throw line marking one of its best efforts of the season.

&8220;We played hard from start to finish and both Maple River and Martin County West are very good teams,&8221; Hintz said.

The Knights are now 4-2 in the Valley Conference and 6-3 overall as they prepare for a road game against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Friday.

Bloom. Prairie 64, USC 52

WELLS &8212; United South Central dropped a conference game to Blooming Prairie Tuesday, 64-52.

Chris Yost led the Rebels with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Jordan Stenzel added 10 points.

The Rebels trailed at halftime 32-25.

Spencer Ohm led Blooming Prairie with 18 points.

USC is now 2-5 in the Gopher Conference and 5-9 overall.

N-K 67, NSRF 33

NORTHWOOD &8212; The fifth-ranked Northwood-Kensett boys&8217; basketball team marched on to another dominating win beating Nora Springs-Rock Falls 67-33 Tuesday.

Jordan Cotter led the Vikings with 17 points, Dan Bestul added 16, Trevor Davidson had 12 and Cody Hanson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.

The Vikings had a dominating 41-15 lead at halftime and were never really threatened.

JWP 62, NRHEG 50

NEW RICHLAND &8212; The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys&8217; basketball team had its game with Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton tied at 31 at halftime, but the Panthers&8217; defense let down after the break. NRHEG ended up dropping the Gopher Conference contest 62-50.

Justin Stieglbauer led the Panthers with 12 points while Blake Kerkhoff and Brad Kruckeberg added 11 points and Brian Warnke had 10.

&8220;They just shot the ball better than we did and we didn&8217;t play enough defense in the second half,&8221; NRHEG head coach Matt Eppen said.

The Panthers are back home Friday to host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.