Boys basketball: Cards make it 5 straight

SAUK RAPIDS— For the first time this season, the Willmar Cardinals will go to a practice with a winning record.
Thursday’s win to begin 2013 was nothing to get excited about except that it boosted the defending Central Lakes champion’s record to 5-4 after a 0-4 start.
The Cardinals fifth straight win, 66-42, was recorded against winless Sauk Rapids. The Storm, averaging 45 points per game, struggle to score a basket got so bad last night that Willmar’s 12-10 lead blew-up to 37-10 by halftime — a 25-0 run by the Cardinals that reached 29-0 early second half.
Kyler Johnson hit five 3-pointers to finish with 19 points. In his third game back from injury, the willowy 6-foot-4 guard with a high release continues to show promise of being a reliable double-figures producer.
Joe Lueze finished with 13 points and Austin Rambow 11. Seven others scored as coach Steve Grove tapped the deep bench quickly in the second half.
The Storm got most of its offense from 6-foot-3 senior guard Ben Kieke, who drained five 3-pointers on the way to 17 points. Kobe Boraas, off the bench, put in 10 points.
Willmar (2-2, 5-4) comes home Tuesday to confront Brainerd (3-0, 6-0).
Willmar 66, Sk Rapids 42
Willmar (2-2 5-4) 10 32 — 42
Sauk Rapids (0-4 0-9) 37 29 — 66
WILLMAR – 44-54 FG (7-16 3-pt); 11-16 FT; 32 rebounds; 11 fouls … Scoring: Joe Leuze 13, Jordan Geurtz 1, Sean Zuidema 2, Josh Holtz 4, DylanSchueler, 4, Cody Magtnson 3, Brady Damhof 4, Kyler Johnson 19, Austin Rambow 11, Adam Nibaur 4, Austin Grove 1 …. 3-point shots: Johnson 5, Magnuson 1, Leuze 1 … Rebound leaders: Zuidema 5, Nibaur 5 … Assist leaders: Leuze 5 … Steal leaders: Leuze 3
SAUK RAPIDS – 16-41 FG (9-17 3-pt); 1-3 FT; 18 rebounds; 14 fouls … Scoring: Ben Kieke 17, Ismail Ali 3, Barclay Bates 1, Kobe Boraas 10, Mitch Waldorf 3, Alex Burklund 2, Ben Riedeman 2, Clay Douvier 2, Riley Stockinger 2 … 3-point shots: Boraas 2, Kieke 5, Ali, Waldorf