The Big Lake boys basketball team won a pair of pivotal conference matchups last week against St. Francis and Monticello. 

Owen Layton led the way in the victory over St. Francis with 25 points last Friday. The team trailed by four at the half but took control in the second half for a 73-65 victory. Owen Wilczek and Isiah Terlinden added 21 and 12 respectively. 

And on Tuesday the team avoided an upset with a 72-67 road win against Monticello. 

After those two victories the team now sits in fourth place in the Mississippi 8 with an 8-5 conference record. The three teams ahead of them are Cambridge-Isanti at 10-3 followed by Chisago Lakes at 9-3 and Becker 8-4. Big Lake has three remaining conference games remaining, all of which come against those three teams ahead of them. 

Next up for the Hornets is a nonconference game against Delano, before travelling to Becker next Tuesday.