MANKATO — Shooting and defense led Madelia to an 13-point comeback over Sleepy Eye in a Tomahawk-Valley Conference crossover boys basketball game Saturday at Bethany Lutheran College as the Blackhawks earned a 76-72 victory.

Madelia found itself down 55-42 in the second half but pulled it together for the win late.

Hayden Jones was at the forefront of the Madelia offense, scoring 28 points on eight 3-pointers, while Kaydon Firchau had 21 points. Josiah DeMaris added 16 points for the Blackhawks.

Sleepy Eye was led by Landon Wendinger with 25 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks, while Braydon Hederscheidt had 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Eric Lozano and Robert Romberg each had 13 points for the Indians.

Sleepy Eye took a 7-3 lead early on a layup from Wendinger, but a 3-pointer from Firschau tied the game at 9. The teams battled close for the entirety of the first half, with neither team gaining much of a lead. A timeout by Sleepy Eye with 6:48 left in the half saw the Blackhawks with a 24-22 lead, which Sleepy Eye promptly tied with a layup from Romberg. Wendinger threw down a dunk late in the half to give Sleepy Eye a 37-35, but Madelia tied it before half with a layup from Tate Becker.

Sleepy Eye took control early in the first, going up 51-40 after a layup from Heiderscheidt, SLeepy Eye extended that lead out to 55-42 on a layup from Lozano, forcing a Madelia timeout with 11:02 to play.

After the teams traded layups, Jones started the comeback with a 3-pointer. Wendinger scored on a layup, which Becker matched on the other end of the court. Madelia chipped away at the lead before going on a 13-0 run, sparked by a pair of free throws from Firchau and finished by a 3-pointer from DeMaris, to go up 69-65.

Sleepy Eye fought to get back into the game, but one final 3-pointer from Firschau sealed the comeback and the victory for Madelia.

Madelia (17-3) hosts Springfield on Monday. Sleepy Eye (9-12) travels to Mountain Lake Area on Monday.

NOTE: An extended version of this story and photos will be available in the Tuesday edition of The Journal.