ST. CLOUD -- Melrose piled up 14 more points at the free-throw line than Litchfield Thursday en route to beating the Dragons 60-49 in the semifinals of the St. Cloud Cathedral Invite.
The unbeaten Dutchmen (6-0) went 23-for-35 at the free-throw line while Litchfield (1-4) was only 9-of-17. The Dragons closed the gap after trailing by nine at halftime and sent Melrose to the charity stripe often in the second half.
Josh Rose netted 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to ignite the Dragons, who made six 3-pointers after canning 10 a day earlier. Peter Zender drained two treys and followed with nine points.
Matt Moorman had 16 points, Seth Gieske 13 and Curt Bertram 12 for Melrose. The Dragons play in the third-place game today at 5:30 p.m. against either Pierz or Sauk Rapids.
Melrose 60, Litchfield 49
ADVERTISEMENT
Melrose (6-0) 30 30 -- 60
Litchfield (1-4) 21 28 -- 49
MELROSE - 18-41 FG (1-4 3 pt); 23-35 FT; 21 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Peter Herkenhoff 8, Matt Moorman 16, Josh Meyer 2, Curt Bertram 12, Seth Gieske 13, James Rosen 3, Brad Wiehoff 6 ... 3-point shots: Moorman 1 ... Rebound leader: Bertram 5 ... Assist leader: Meyer 2 ... Steal leader: Herkenhoff 2
LITCHFIELD - 17-46 FG (6-16 3 pt); 9-17 FT; 16 rebounds; 25 fouls ... Scoring: Kent Johnson 4, Peter Zender 9, Daren Sangren 2, Jarit Euerle 2, Nathan Nelson 3, Michael Brueswitz 6, Matt Triche 7, Josh Rose 16 ... 3-point shots: Johnson 1, Zender 2, Nelson 1, Brusewitz 1, Triche 1 ... Rebound leaders: Triche 5, Rose 5 ... Assist leader: Johnson 4 ... Steal leader: none
