WILLMAR --With Dante Bogard striking for 23 points and Travis Epema pulling down 13 rebounds, the Ridgewater Warriors rolled over Riverland 64-46 Saturday to keep their post-season hopes alive.
The Warriors (3-5, 8-12) play host to Minnesota West (2-5, 9-11) on Wednesday. Ridgewater, Minnesota West and Anoka-Ramsey are fighting for the fourth and final playoff bid out of Southern Division of the Minnesota Community College Conference.
Bogard, a 6-foot-3 sophomore wing from Omaha, made 9-of-15 shots, including 3-of-6 three-pointers. His teammates mostly struggled with their aim -- shooting 37 percent -- but it mattered little against the undermanned Blue Devils (1-8, 6-15). Riverland's bench consisted of two players in street clothes, so all five starters went the distance. Andre Morgan scored 14 points to lead the visitors.
Tony Kley also had a nice game for Ridgewater, making 6 of 9 shots for 15 points. Epema had eight offensive rebounds and guard Wesley Kitt made six steals.
Ridgewater 64, Riverland 46
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Riverland (1-8, 6-15) 24 22 -- 46
Ridgewater (3-5, 8-12) 33 31 -- 64
RIVERLAND - 19-49 FG (3-15 3 pt); 5-8 FT; 33 rebounds; 11 fouls .... Scoring: Andre Morgan 5-10 2-2 14, Art Gomer 2-11 0-0 4, Derek Roeder 6-14 0-0 13, Jake Burzinski 1-3 1-4 3, Dijon Reese 5-11 2-2 12 .... 3-point shots: Morgan 2-4, Roeder 1-4 .... Rebound leader: Reese 9.... Assist leader: Burzinski 4
RIDGEWATER - 25-68 FG (7-28 3 pt); 7-10 FT; 43 rebounds; 11 fouls .... Scoring: Travis Epema 2-5 1-2 5, Shawn Thissen 1-10 0-0 2, Geoffrey Nelson 1-7 0-0 2, Dante Bogard 9-15 2-2 23, Tony Kley 6-9 2-2 15, Wesley Kitt 3-14 0-0 8, Preston Looman 2-4 0-0 5, Isaac Brehmer 1-3 2-2 4.... 3-point shots: Bogard 3-6, Kley 1-2, Kitt 2-11, Looman 1-1 .... Rebound leader: Epema 13, Bogard 5, Nelson 4, Looman 4, Larry Player 4 .... Assist leader: Epema 2, Bpogard 2, Kley 4, Kitt 2, Player 2 .... Steal leader: Epema 2, Kley 2, Kitt 6, Player 2
NEXT -- Ridgewater: Wednesday, home, Minnesota West, 8 p.m.
