Big Nine

Northfield surprised Owatonna by scoring eight runs in the seventh inning to delay the Huskies from clinching the Big Nine title.

The success for the Big Nine Conference at the state basketball tournaments continued Wednesday as Austin won their Class AAA quarterfinal over Sauk Rapids-Rice at Williams Arena. The Packers pulled away at times in the second half and won 64-55 to advance to Thursday's semifinals at Target Center.

For the third straight year a Big Nine Conference team has reached the state Class 3A finals in the girls' basketball tournament. Northfield beat Grand Rapids Thursday 64-54 to reach the championship game against top-seed Robbinsdale Cooper Saturday, March 17 at 6PM on Target Center on KDHL AM 920.

Owatonna is well represented on the winter all-conference teams. Full lists are available at the Big Nine website, along with the final conference standings. The website is regularly updated with schedules and schedule changes, which occur frequently during the upcoming spring sports season.

A pair of 14-game basketball winning streaks were snapped Saturday. The Owatonna boys fell to Rochester John Marshall 62-46. NRHEG lost at Redwood Valley 63-61.

Owatonna gymnastics won its third straight Big Nine championship Saturday, their 14th overall conference title since 1972 according to www.big9.org. OHS scored 146.6 to win by about four-and-a-half points. The Huskies go for their third straight Section 1AA title Friday at John Marshall High School. OHS finished third at the state meet in 2017.

Sophomore Isaiah Noeldner won by pin at heavyweight to complete an amazing come-from-behind win for No. 8 Owatonna over No. 6 Albert Lea 30-27 Saturday afternoon at a packed OHS gym. The second period stick was the fourth straight win for Owatonna to complete the rally from a 27-12 deficit after the 170 pound match.

Owatonna and Northfield have quickly developed a great Big Nine Conference rivalry since the Raiders rejoined the league a few years ago. Northfield has had the upper hand for the most part this winter. On Tuesday, Owatonna's basketball teams will be looking for a season split with Northfield while the OHS boys' hockey team aims for a season sweep.

The biggest obstacle to Thursday's Big Nine Conference wrestling showdown between Owatonna and Albert Lea might be the weather. But whether the dual happens as scheduled, or moves to another date, Owatonna coach Adam Woitalla says it will come down to, "bonus points, bonus points, bonus points."

Eight Owatonna football players were named to the Big Southeast All-District team, including the Offensive Player of the Year. Four others earned a spot on the honorable mention team. Junior Jason Williamson landed the top offensive honor for the Red Division after racing for nearly 2,000 yards.