Boys basketball: Sabres slice up Cards

SARTELL — The Sartell Sabres asserted themselves from the start and went on to down the Willmar Cardinals 73-59 on Thursday in Central Lakes boys basketball.
The home team went out 6-0 and Willmar never got close to taking the lead.
The Sabres charged to a 44-25 lead and had three starters in double figures after 18 minutes; two starters scored for the visitors — Austin Rambow with 9 and Cody Magnuson with 3 with the bench providing the rest of the first-half points.
The Cardinals adjusted their gun sights at the break and emerged from the locker room with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a pair of triples from Kyler Johnson.
That cut the gap down to 44-35, but the Sabres’ slumber soon ended and a 7-0 surge rebuilt the margin to double-digits.
The Cardinals were competitive in the second half but it was much too late and they were unable to slow the Sabres offense, which has averaged 57 ppg.
“We weren’t ready to play and we dug ourselves into a hole,” said Willmar coach Steve Grove. “We played better in the second half, but to no avail.”
Johnson ended with 12 points, all on 3s in the second half, and Rambow 11.
The Cardinals had trouble taming the Sabres down deep: 6-foot-7 Trevor Immelman supplied 22 points while 6-4 Patrick Fischer muscled inside for 17 points and 6-3 Parker Hagen added a dozen more. Junior guard Tom Bearson poured in 20 points, mostly on mid-range jumpers and both Sartell 3s.
Sartell also won the first round Jan. 11 at Willmar 69-52.
Willmar is hosting Alexandria tonight trying to end a three-game skid.
Sartell 74, Willmar 59
Willmar (6-8, 11-12 25 34 — 59
Sartell (8-6, 13-10) 44 28 — 74
WILLMAR – 22-59 FG (9-27 3-pt); 6-8 FT; 20 rebounds; 17 fouls … Scoring: Joe Leuze 6, Joel Carter 4, Jordan Geurtz 4, Sean Zuidema 4, Dylan Schueler 5, Tyler Stegeman 3, Cody Magnuson 6, Kyler Johnson 12, Austin Rambow 11, Alex Grove 4 … 3-point shots: Johnson 4, Leuze 2, Magnuson 2, Schueler 1 … Rebound leaders: Rambow 4, Leuze 4 … Assist leaders: Leuze 3 … Steal leaders: none
SARTELL – 28-44 FG (2-4 3-pt); 15-20 FT; 23 rebounds; 10 fouls … Scoring: Tom Bearson 20, Patrick Fischer 17, Ben Lanners 2, Tim Immelman 22, Parker Hagen 12 … 3-point shots: Bearson 2