BROOKINGS – With a much-hyped battle for the top spot in the Eastern South Dakota Conference on the line, Tuesday’s matchup between Brandon Valley and the Bobcats turned out to be no contest by the end, as Brookings cruised to a 58-42 league win at Bob Jostad Gymnasium.

Granted, the Lynx scored first and there were seven lead changes along with a couple of Brandon Valley line changes in the first quarter, but the ‘Cats scored the last four points to lead 11-8 at the break.

“That’s Brandon Valley – (Coach Brent Deckert) has 10 very good basketball players – the key is us getting matched up with them,” said Bobcat head coach Travis Engebretson. “We’re rotating our eight guys and they’re all comfortable with their roles and they know what’s going to happen – what a great effort tonight.”

Brandon Valley pulled within three points, 17-14, three minutes into the second quarter on Drew Jurgens’ 3-pointer –the Lynx’ only trey of the half –before Ryan Argust matched it with a 3 from the top of the key to beat the shot clock and start an 11-5 Bobcat run to close out the half as they led 28-19 at intermission.

Brookings shot 11-of-21 from the field – 52 percent – that included 6-of-8 from downtown over the first 16 minutes.

Devin Coughlin’s 10-foot baseline jumper on the ‘Cats’ second possession of the third quarter pushed the lead back to double digits, and then, with 2:02 left, Sam Wilber’s 3-pointer gave Brookings its largest lead of the game at 12 points, 37-25.

Up 39-29 heading into the fourth, another Wilber 3 made it a 13-point game at 46-33 with 5:34 on the clock before the Lynx scored four straight to get back within nine points.

But Jameson Meyer’s offensive rebound and dish allowed Carter Holm to score inside and complete an old-fashioned three-point play at the 4:37 mark and Brandon Valley never challenged again.

Drew Cole’s 3-pointer with 3:49 to play pushed the lead to 15 at 52-37, and then, Brennan Carlson scored late back-to-back baskets as the ‘Cats went up by 19 in the final minute before Cade Terveer’s 3-pointer with 18 seconds left provided for the final score.

“Offensively, (we) just share the ball and snap that thing around – it’s a fun game to coach when you have kids that are out there playing unselfishly, playing for each other and just moving that basketball around,” Engebretson said. “We shot extremely well from the perimeter tonight and that always helps loosen things up.

“Defensively, what an effort – until that last 3, it was 39 (points for Brandon Valley) and that’s been our staple all season long. We’ve been coming out and telling ourselves if we play good defense, we’re going to give ourselves a chance.”

Brookings finished 23-of-46 for the game and 9-of-14 from beyond the arc for 64 percent.

Carlson posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bobcats, who improved to 16-2 and 13-2 in the ESD. Devin Coughlin added 12 points and seven boards while Holm finished with nine second-half markers to go along with three assists and a steal. Josh Mohs scored eight first-half points and dished out four dimes as Wilber chipped in with eight points, Argust five and Cole three.

Spencer Grage had 14 points to lead the Lynx, who dropped to 14-4 and 12-2 in conference play. Drew Jurgens added 11 points and seven rebounds while Terveer also netted 11.

Brookings plays host to Sioux Falls O’Gorman on Friday at approximately 8 p.m. as the Bobcats and Lady Knights take the court at 6:30 p.m. The Knights are 14-3 and second in the District 1AA seed points with 43.12 to the ‘Cats’ 43.78.

“That’s a big game – right now it’s back-and-forth for the No. 1 seed in the district and that’s huge,” said Engebretson. “Once again, it’s a kind of a measure to find out how good we are and I know the kids will be up for the challenge.”