Willmar offense explodes
FERGUS FALLS -- The Willmar Cardinals are 6-1 in the Central Lakes Conference after getting by Fergus Falls 83-67 on Thursday in boys basketball.
Willmar fell behind by double digits early, but rallied back and led 46-34 at halftime.
Taylor Filipek and Jordan Smith were too much for the Otters to handle at the same time. Filipek, the 6-6 junior guard, finished with 25 points and Smith, a 6-4 senior forward, also chucked in 25.
The Otters were led by Grant Torgerson, a senior forward who poured in five 3-pointers on the way to a 26-point night.
Willmar broke 80 points for the second time.
The Cardinals return home to host section rival Marshall on Monday before getting back into Central Lakes play against Sauk Rapids, also in Willmar, on Tuesday.
Ten-point runs started and ended the contest. The Otters jumped to a 10-0 lead off the jump ball; after Fergus got within 73-67 at 2:52. Willmar scored the next 10 points -- the final 16-point margin matching the largest differential of the game.
Willmar trailed until Filipek hit a basket for a 23-22 lead.
Fergus Falls cut Willmar's 16-point second-half lead down to seven with just under three minutes left. Fergus coach Dave Lehrke, a Willmar native, took a timeout, but Willmar scored the next five baskets to end the game.
Willmar 83, Fergus Falls 67
Willmar (6-1, 10-3) 46 37 -- 83
Fergus Falls (4-3, 4-6) 34 33 -- 67
WILLMAR - 34-62 FG (5-19 3-pt); 10-11 FT; 32 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Alec Saunders 3, Logan Birkland 3, James Neis 11, Jordan Smith 25, Isaiah Streed 8, Taylor Filipek 25, Ryan Filipek 2, Brian Reeves 6 ... 3-point shots: Neis 1, Smith 2, T.Filipek 2 ... Rebound leaders: Smith 9, T.Filipek 7 ... Assist leaders: Neis 7 ... Steal leaders: none
FERGUS FALLS - 24-53 FG (8-23 3-pt); 11-20 FT; 20 rebounds; 12 fouls ... Scoring: Darren Stankowski 2, Nick Risbrot 4, Jake Heck 3, Kyle Shaikoski 8, Grant Torgerson 26, Derek Hansen 14, Adam Schueller 10 ... 3-point shots: Torgerson 5, Shaikoski 2, heck 1 ... Rebound, assist, steal leaders not available
