WILLMAR - Kyle Townswick, the smallest player on the floor, continues to play tall each night for the Willmar Cardinals - win or lose.
The 5-foot-7 junior guard scored 26 points Saturday to help Willmar overcome the Litchfield Dragons 67-64 in a non-conference boys basketball game.
Townwick, averaging 22.8 points-per-game, popped in six of Willmar's 10 three-pointers. Those helped offset the Cardinals' 36-17 disadvantage in rebounding.
"Townswick is quite a player," commented Litchfield coach John Carlson, who saw his Wright County Conference club fall to 0-3. "We're getting better, but it's still another loss. Physically, it was a good effort."
Willmar led 59-48 after a Townwick trey followed by his baseline drive at 6:40.
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But Litchfield battled back behind three-pointers by Peter Zender, who finished with 14 points, and Nate Nelson, plus four baskets by Matt Triche; the last that trimmed the Willmar lead to 65-62 with under a minute left. Triche finished with 13 points.
Litchfield got the ball back, but rushed a shot that missed badly. Ryan Hagemeyer then made two free throws to ice the game with 7.5 seconds left.
"We need to put two good halves together," said Willmar senior post Matt Roisum, who notched a pair of three-pointers. "Even tonight, we didn't take our time.
"We could have won at (St. Cloud) Tech, but had that lapse. But I think we'll do well in the Central Lakes Conference. It's really up for grabs."
Willmar lost by 10 points at St. Cloud Tech last Thursday night, giving up a 14-0 run to start the second half.
Kent Johnson and Mike Bruesewitz each added nine for the Dragons. Josh Rose grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points.
Willmar 67, Litchfield 64
Litchfield (0-3)...................32 32 - 64
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Willmar (2-2)......................32 35 - 67
LITCHFIELD - 23-52 FG (4 3 pt); 14-21 FT; 36 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Kent Johnson 9, Peter Zender 14, Daren Sangren 5, Nate Nelson 9, Mike Bruesewitz 7, Matt Triche 13, Josh Rose 6, Nick Davis 1 ... 3-point shots: Johnson, Zender 2, Nelson ... Rebound leader: Johnson 4, Zender 5, Sangren 4, Nelson 4, Bruesewitz 4, Triche 5, Rose 8 ... Assist leader: Nelson 4, Johnson 3, Sangren 2, Triche 2, Rose 5... Steal leader: Triche 2
WILLMAR - 21-44 FG (10 3 pt); 15-22 FT; 17 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Townswick 26, Matt Seehusen 6, Tyler Horning 4, Michael Dunham 6, Matt Roisum 6, Ross Van Hauen 4, Ryhan Hagemeyer 11, Luke Buer 4 ... 3-point shots: Townswick 6, Dunham 1, Roisum 2, Hagemeyer 1 Horning 4 ... Rebound leader: Hagemeyer 5, Horning 2, Dunham 2 ... Assist leader: Horning 2, Roisum 3, Dunham 3, Townwick 2, Seehusen 3, Hagemeyer 3 ... Steal leader: Townwick 2, Seehusen 2, Horning 3, Van Hauen 2
NEXT - Willmar: Tuesday, home vs. Brainerd
