High School Boys Basketball: Cards rally cut short
Mar. 5—WILLMAR — Despite a valiant effort in the second half, the Willmar boys basketball team was unable to overcome a huge hole against Brainerd on Thursday night.
The Cardinals sliced a 24-point deficit down to seven before falling to the Warriors 69-60 from the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School.
Willmar drops to 6-8 overall and is tied for sixth in the Central Lakes Conference standings with St. Cloud Apollo. Brainerd (12-2, 9-2 CLC) is second in the conference.
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The visitors took control early thanks to a 29-2 swing.
The Cardinals had moments where their man-to-man defense kept pace with the road team, but either from the drive-and-kick or simply shooting over the top of their defender, Brainerd couldn't be slowed down in the first half.
A 3-pointer from Logen Roberts gave the Warriors a 12-10 lead and kicked off a 13-0 run. Willmar senior forward Aaron Watland hit a driving layup to briefly stop the bleeding, but the hosts came up empty on their next 12 possessions, five of which resulted in a turnover.
Brainerd responded with a 16-0 surge capped by a 3-pointer from John Pecarich to push the advantage to 36-12. The Warriors entered halftime with a 40-20 cushion with the help of eight makes from behind the arc.
The Cardinals made their push shortly after returning from the locker rooms. They trailed 47-27 before a 13-2 rally got them back in it. Jacob Rosendahl with a pull-up jump shot. The senior guard delivered another pull-up to cut the lead 47-37 before a Watland free throw got Willmar to within single digits for the first time since his aforementioned field goal.
Sophomore forward Blake Schoolmeester drilled two foul shots to make it 49-42 with 8 minutes, 16 seconds remaining, but Pecarich answered on the ensuing possession with one of his four 3-pointers on the night.
Brainerd held anywhere between an eight-to-11-point lead the rest of the way.
Griffin Rushin led the Warriors with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchell Degen added 15 points and Pecarich finished with 14.
Rosendahl led the Cardinals with 17 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of steals. Ross Minnick chipped in 15 points.
Willmar plays St. Cloud Apollo at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Big Red Gym.
Central Lakes
Brainerd 69,
Willmar 60
Brainerd (12-2) 40 29 — 69
Willmar (6-8) 20 40 — 60
BRAINERD — Scoring: John Pecarich 14, Mitchell Degen 15, Logen Roberts 8, Cooper Jacobs 6, Griffin Rushin 17, Nick Evanson 2, Max Lelwica 7 ... 3-point shots: Pecarich 4, Roberts 2, Jacobs 1, Rushin 1, Lelwica 1 ... Rebound leader: Rushin 12 ... Assist leader: N/A ... Steal leader: Pecarich 2 ... Block leader: Rushin 2
WILLMAR — Scoring: Hunter Magnuson 4, Jacob Rosendahl 17, Cayden Hansen 2, Alex Schramm 6, Blake Schoolmeester 2, Sam Raitz 9, Ross Minnick 15, Aaron Watland 5 ... 3-point shots: Magnuson 1, Rosendahl 1, Schramm 2, Raitz 1... Rebound leader: Rosendahl 10, Hansen 8 ... Assist leader: Rosendahl 3 ... Steal leader: Rosendahl 2 ... Block leader: Rosendahl 1, Raitz 1, Minnick 1
West Central
Morris/CA 93,
Benson 79
Benson's Ben Peterson pumped in 40 points, but Morris/Chokio-Alberta's Jackson Loge had 51 in the Tigers' victory at Benson.
Loge, a 6-foot-8 junior, made 19 of 34 field goals (56%), including 7 of 12 (58%) from 3-point range. He was 6-for-12 from the free-throw line and also had 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Peterson made 13 of 26 shots (50%), including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. He also was 8-for-9 (88%) from the foul line.
Morris/CA is host to Paynesville at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Benson plays host to Dawson-Boyd at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Morris/CA (13-2) 34 59 — 93
Benson (7-9) 27 52 — 79
MORRIS/CA — Scoring: Durgin Decker 6, Cole Wente 3, Brandon Jergenson 8, Thomas Tiernan 3, Riley Reimers 8, Jackson Loge 51, Toby Gonnerman 11, Sam Klinewolterink 3 ... 3-point shots: Decker 1-4, Wente 1-2, Jergenson 2-6, Loge 7-12, Klinewolterink 1-1 ... Rebound leaders: Loge 17, Decker 5, Tiernan 5... Assist leaders: Tiernan 7, Reimers 4, Loge 4, Jergenson 4 ... Steal leader: Decker 2 ... Block leader: Loge 3
BENSON — Scoring: Abe Peterson 8, Sam Lenarz 1, Cole Hedman 17, Matt Laumeyer 4, Ben Peterson 40, Juan Espinoza 9... 3-point shots: A. Peterson 2-5, Hedman 2-8, B. Peterson 6-12, Espinoza 3-5... Rebound leaders: Espinoza 9, B. Peterson 5, Lenarz 4 ... Assist leader: B. Peterson 3 ... Steal leader: B. Peterson 2 ... Block leader: none
Camden
CMCS 60,
KMS 42
On a memorable night for Case Mulder, Central Minnesota Christian earned the victory over Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg at Kerkhoven.
Mulder, a junior guard, scored his 1,000th career point.
"He came into the game needing nine," CMCS head coach Ted Taatjes said. "He got it midway through the first half on a three-pointer."
Taatjes called a timeout and Mulder, who finished with 16 points, was presented with a ball. He'll be formally honored in the Bluejays' home game Friday against Windom, Taatjes said.
Blake Greenwaldt had 14 points, Ben Van Eps 11 and Caleb Vander Beek 10 for CMCS.
Alex Call led the Fighting Saints with 13 points. KMS plays Renville County West on Monday at Renville.
CMCS (12-3) 43 17 — 60
KMS (4-11) 21 21 — 42
CMCS — Scoring: Ethan Bulthuis 6, Case Mulder 16, Mason Groen 3, Blake Greenwaldt 14, Ben Van Eps 11, Caleb Vander Beek 10 ... 3-point shots: Bulthuis 2, Mulder 4, Groen 1, Greenwaldt 4, Van Eps 1 ... Rebound leader: Greenwaldt 11, Bulthuis 8 ... Assist leader: Mulder 5 ... Steal leader: Van Eps 3 ... Block leader: Bulthuis 1, Groen 1, Vander Beek 1
KMS — Scoring: Alex Call 13, Isaac Rudningen 7, Isaac Call 2, Jared Cortez 7, Gavin Thorson 2, Gage Throson 2, Drew Johnson 9 ... 3-point shots: Cortez 1 ... Rebound leader: A. Call 6, I. Call 6 ... Assist leader: I. Call 3 ... Steal leader: A. Call 2 ... Block leader: None
MACCRAY 67,
D-B 61
MACCRAY enjoyed a 35-20 halftime advantage before holding off Dawson-Boyd at Clara City.
Brady Kienitz had a strong game for the Wolverines. The senior guard had 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists. Carter Wrede was the only other MACCRAY to score in double figures with 10 points.
MACCRAY plays Lakeview at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Cottonwood. Dawson-Boyd plays at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Benson.
D-B (2-13) 20 41 — 61
MACCRAY (6-9) 35 32 — 67
D-B — Stats not available
MACCRAY — Scoring: Isaac Strommer 8, Brady Kienitz 24, Will Asche 4, Payton Kleinhuizen 4, Gavin Husman 6, Tommy Hoekstra 3, Carter Wrede 10, Brooks Asche 8 ... 3-point shots: Strommer 8, Kienitz 2, Husman 1, B. Asche 2 ... Rebound leader: Kienitz 10 ... Assist leader: Kienitz 5 ... Steal leader: Strommer 2 ... Block leader: B. Asche 2
LQPV 62,
T-M-B 60
Lac qui Parle Valley remains unbeaten after surviving a nailbiter against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at Tracy.
The Eagles are ranked third in the state in Class A and top of the Camden-North division. T-M-B is the Camden-South leader.
LQPV plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at Renville County West.
LQPV (15-0) 36 26 — 62
T-M-B (9-6) 26 34 — 60
R-T-R 96,
YME 52
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton scored 48 points in each half to defeat Yellow Medicine East at Granite Falls.
The Panthers got 23 points from Aiden Wichmann and 15 points each from Cody Wichmann and Dylan Anderson. Cody Wichmann added five rebounds and two steals.
Cody Dahlager and Nikson Knapper each scored 10 points for the Sting.
YME plays Minneota at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Granite Falls.
R-T-R (9-5) 48 48 — 96
YME (0-15) 28 24 — 52
R-T-R — Scoring: Cody Wichmann 15, Aiden Wichmann 23, Tucker Haroldson 2, Darrick Baartman 8, Jonah Christianson 9, Dylan Anderson 15, Hayden Gravley 11, Logan Lamote 6 ... 3-point shots: C. Wichmann 3, A. Wichmann 3, Baartman 1, Christianson 1, Gravely 3 ... Rebound leader: C. Wichmann 5 ... Assist leader: A. Wichmann 2 ... Steal leader: C. Wichmann 2 ... Block leader: None
YME — Scoring: Kyle Chase 6, Cody Dahlager 10, Isaac Jimenez 7, Tyler Nordaune 7, Nikson Knapper 10, Caleb Jans 10, Tony Berthelsen 2 ... 3-point shots: Chase 1, Nordaune 1, Knapper 2 ... Rebound leader: Jimenez 3 ... Assist leader: Dahlager 3 ... Steal leader: Nordaune 2, Preston Berends 2 ... Block leader: None
Non-Conference
NLS 76,
Montevideo 60
New London-Spicer moved to a game below .500 after its win at Montevideo.
Brycen Christensen had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Peyton Coahran had 17 points, Mason Toutges 15 and Jaden Zylstra 15 for NLS..
For the Thunder Hawks, Colby Buseman had a game-high 14 points. Andrew Vanbinsbergen put up 13 points and Kaden Boike added 11.
Both teams have quick turnarounds. The Wildcats play at 7 p.m. Friday at Litchfield. Montevideo plays host to Melrose on Friday. The Dutchmen are ranked fifth in the state in Class AA.
NLS (7-8) 44 32 — 76
Montevideo (5-8) 26 34 — 60
NLS — Scoring: Aedan Andresen 2, Brycen Christensen 18, Peyton Coahran 17, Tyler Danielson 2, Grant Paffrath 8, Mason Toutges 15, Jaden Zylstra 14 ... 3-point shots: Christensen 1, Coahran 5, Toutges 2 ... Rebound leader: Christensen 14 ... Assist leader: Holland 5 ... Steal leader: Holland 4 ... Block leader: Christensen 3
MONTEVIDEO — Scoring: Colby Buseman 14, Andrew Vanbinsbergen 13, Kaden Boike 11, Francis O'Malley 6, Landon Stock 6, Bradyn Schultz 4, Cole Augeson 2, Hunter Strand 2, Justin Collins 2 ... 3-point shots: Boike 1 ... Rebound leader: Schultz 8 ... Assist leader: Four with 1 ... Steal leader: Boike 4 ... Block leader: None
RCW 75,
Hancock 67
Facing a halftime deficit, Renville County West outscored Hancock 49-33 in the second half to collect the victory in Renville.
Riley Ashburn scored 31 points, grabbed seven rebounds and snatched four steals for the Jaguars. Tyler Froland added 14 points and Brandan Hoberg contributed 13 points, five assists and six steals.
Matt Thompson put up 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Owls.
RCW hosts Lac qui Parle Valley at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles handed the Jaguars their first loss of the season after a 59-53 defeat on Feb. 16.
Hancock (11-5) 34 33 — 67
RCW (11-3) 26 49 — 75
HANCOCK — Scoring: Kody Berget 12, Luke Joos 7, Branden Kellenberger 3, Preston Rohloff 2, Adam Shaw 7, Matt Thompson 32, Sebastian Felix 2, Jackson Koehl 2 ... 3-point shots: Berget 4, Joos 1, Shaw 1, Thompson 2 ... Rebound leader: Thompson 14 ... Assist leader: Joos 6, Rohloff 6 ... Steal leader: Berget 2, Kellenberger 2, Rohloff 2, Shaw 2... Block leader: N/A
RCW — Scoring: Brandan Hoberg 13, Riley Ashburn 31, Tyler Froland 14, Nathan Schmidt 7, Jaden Kolker 8, Jaden Serbus 2 ... 3-point shots: Hoberg 3, Froland 2, Schmidt 1, Kolker 2 ... Rebound leader: Ashburn 7 ... Assist leader: Hoberg 5, Schmidt 5 ... Steal leader: Hoberg 6, Ashburn 4 ... Block leader: Ashburn 1, Serbus 1
