WILLMAR -- Kyle Townswick popped in 32 points and Ryan Hagemeyer contributed 14 points and nine rebounds as the Willmar Cardinals knocked off St. Cloud Apollo 85-74 in a high-energy Central Lakes Conference boys basketball game Thursday.
The win in the last regular-season home game for four seniors increases Willmar's hopes for a home game in the Section 8AAA quarterfinals on March 9.
"We didn't want to lose what could be our last home game," said Matt Roisum. "We wanted to go out with a bang. When we got the lead, we all got excited and fed off the crowd's intensity."
The Eagles beat Willmar 55-45 on Jan. 12 in St. Cloud. Apollo came in on a six-game win streak and holding down second place in the CLC.
"Willmar played a great game," said Apollo coach Dean Kesler. "Townswick had a great game -- their whole team did."
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Townswick, the 5-7 junior guard, had a laser-like touch. He hit 5 of 9 three-pointers, often of the stop-and-pop variety and went 9-for-9 at the line.
Apollo, big, strong and athletic, is a hard team to defend. Junior 6-5 post Seth Noreen pushed inside for 27 points and Preston Whitaker, a nimble 6-2 wing, struck for 26 points.
Willmar got the lead for good, 28-25, after consecutive treys from Townswick and Hagemeyer. The Cardinals led 43-34 at halftime and 48-34 one minute into the second half.
"We owed them one," said Willmar junior wing Cory Hanson who scored 11 points. "I think we just played a lot more aggressive and went to the rack hard."
Senior Tyler Horning made five steals and two blocks to go with four points. Senior Luke Buer had five points.
Whitaker hit two straight 3-pointers at 1:12 to get Willmar's lead down to 77-74. Then he fouled out immediately. Townswick and Roisum downed four free throws for a seven-point lead with one minute left.
Willmar 85, SC Apollo 74
SC Apollo (12-4, 16-5) 34 40 -- 74
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Willmar (9-7, 12-10) 43 42 -- 85
ST. CLOUD APOLLO - 27-49 FG (5-14 3 pt); 15-24 FT; 24 rebounds; 27 fouls ... Scoring: Lucas Skay 1, Preston Whitaker 26, Matt Cool 2, Nick Simon 12, Andrew Nelson 6, Seth Noreen 27 ... 3-point shots: Whitaker 3, Simon 2
WILLMAR - 22-53 FG (10-18 3 pt); 31-37 FT; 23 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Townswick 32, Matt Seehusen 4, Cory Hanson 11, Tyler Horning 4, Michael Dunham 6, Matt Roisum 9, Ryan Hagemeyer 14, Luke Buer 5 ... 3-point shots: Hagemeyer 2, Dunham 1, Townswick 5, Hanson 2 ... Rebound leader: Horning 3, Roisum 4, Townswick 3, Seehusen 2, Hanson 2, Hagemeyer 9 ... Assist leader: Townswick 2, Dunham 2, Roisum 3 ... Steal leader: Horning 5, Townswick 2 .... Blocked shots: Roisum 2, Horning 2
