BISMARCK – The New Year began with more frustration for both Jamestown High School basketball teams on Friday.

After falling behind by 17 in the first half, the Blue Jay girls came back to within two points late in the game before St. Mary’s held on for a 52-47 win at Tony Wald Court at St. Mary’s Central High School.

Jamestown’s boys then played an exactly even first half with St. Mary’s before the Saints opened the second half with a 29-12 run on their way to an 86-64 victory.

Both JHS teams have lost four games in a row.

Girls: St. Mary’s 52, Jamestown 47
St. Mary’s (3-3, 1-2 WDA) forged a 28-11 lead during the first half and a 33-20 lead at the break thanks in part from 10 points by Mataya Messer.

Jamestown (2-4, 0-3) then gradually reduced the Saints’ lead, cutting it to 47-45 in the last three minutes before St. Mary’s held on.

Messer scored 13 for St. Mary’s. Mya Jones and Journey Oukrop each had 10.

Macey Neumiller tallied 15 for the Blue Jays. Milan Martin added 13 and Adisyn Yunck scored eight, all in the second half.

Jamestown will play at top-ranked Minot on Tuesday.

Boys: St. Mary’s 86, Jamestown 64
Edison Walters poured in 16 first-half points for Jamestown (2-4, 0-3) as the Blue Jays shot 50 percent in the first 18 minutes, after which the game was even at 42-42.

But post players Jackson Barth and Keller Hertz-Barnett and shooting guard Trason Terry propelled St Mary’s (4-2, 1-2) to their big second half start. As the Saints outscored the Blue Jays 44-22 in the second half, Barth, Hertz-Barnett and Terry combined for 35 of the points.

Barth and Hertz-Barnett each scored 22. Terry and Brooks Armstrong each tallied 13 points.

Walters had 30, his second game this season with at least 30 points, for Jamestown. Eric Van Berkom scored 12.

Jamestown will host Minot on Tuesday at Jerry Meyer Arena. Coverage will begin at around 6:45 PM on The Voice of the Blue Jays, Jamestown 107.1. Live and archived video will be available on the Jamestown 107.1 Sports YouTube Channel.