A clash of two of the Gopher Conference's best boys' basketball teams was not surprisingly decided by defense, and Bethlehem Academy bettered Blooming Prairie 41-34 Friday night in Faribault.

Faribault B.A., the defending Section 1A champion, got out to a 21-11 halftime lead, fueled by 12 of Adam Angell's game-high 15 points. The Blossoms shut Angell down in the second half, but did not have enough offense of their own to get back into the league match.

BPHS (14-3, 8-2) limited B.A. to six points in the third quarter but hit just 3-of-9 free-throws in the fourth quarter to keep themselves from the comeback. Angell was the game's only double-digit scorer.

"Our goal coming into the game was to hold them under 40 percent, and we did that," said Blooming Prairie coach John Bruns. "But we did not shoot well ourselves."

B.A. shot 34 percent to Blooming's 35, with both team netting nine two-pointers and three three-pointers. The difference was at the foul line, where the host Cardinals went 14-for-23. The Blossoms were 7-for-16.

Justin DeGrood added nine points for Bethlehem Academy (13-4, 9-1).

The loss ended a five-game winning streak for Blooming Prairie.

Three players -- David Kramer, Doug Wencl and Jon Peterson -- paced the Blossoms with six points. Kraig Olson scored five coming off the bench.

Blooming Prairie plays at home Monday against Hiawatha Valley League leader and Class AA's third-ranked Byron Bears.