Flyers end skid against Willmar
WILLMAR -- The Little Falls Flyers couldn't miss in the Willmar gym Thursday night and nudged the Cardinals 56-52 in Central Lakes Conference boys basketball.
Ronnie Korbaum, a 6-1 senior guard, popped in a pair of free throws to break a 52-all tie with 25 seconds left.
The Flyers then added two more free throws in the last seconds after a Willmar missed a shot for the final margin.
The Flyers broke a 13-game losing streak to the Cardinals, winning for the first time since March 1, 2002, by a 54-49 score at Little Falls. Willmar won the first meeting this season, 52-50, on Jan. 8.
The Flyers deposited 14 of 15 free-throw attempts in the second half, and they made 7-of-13 chances from three-point territory.
"They made the shots and we didn't," said Willmar coach Steve Grove, conceding that the Cardinals are struggling. "In the close games, we've been coming up short."
The Flyers held a 25-24 lead at intermission. Little Falls was successful at spreading the floor which took Willmar out of its uptempo game.
Junior Taylor Filipek led Willmar with 14 points and Brian Reeves added 12, ten in the second half. Jordan Smith hit two three-pointers in the second half on the way to 10 points and Jim Neis had six assists.
Alex Scott and Nick Endrich each added 11 for the Flyers (8-7, 12-11).
Willmar (11-4, 15-8) takes on St. Cloud Apollo on Tuesday, also at home.
Little Falls 56, Willmar 52
Little Falls (8-7, 12-11) 25 31 -- 56
Willmar (11-4, 15-8) 24 28 -- 52
LITTLE FALLS - 17-31 FG (7-13 3-pt); 15-17 FT; 13 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Alex Scott 11, Zach Horejsi 5, Ronnie Kornbaum 22, Nick Endrich 11, Dan Kornbaum 1, Ethan Mustonen 6 ... 3-point shots: Scott 1, Horejsi 1, Kornbaum 2, Erdrich 3 ... Rebound leaders: not available
WILLMAR - 17-32 FG (3-9 3-pt); 9-12 FT; 17 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Alec Saunders 4, Logan Birkland 2, James Neis 2, Jordan Smith 10, Isaiah Streed 7, Taylor Filipek 14, Ryan Filipek 1, Brian Reees 12 ... 3-point shots: Smith 2, T. Filipek 1 ... Rebound leaders: Smith 3, Streed 3, R. Filipek 5... Assist leaders: Neis 6 ... Steal leaders: Reeves 2
