NEW LONDON -- The Willmar boys captured the Region 5 Ninth Grade Pacesetters Tournament title Saturday and will now play in the state tournmament July 9 at The College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.
Willmar edged Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 39-36 in the championship with Logan Birkland scoring 14 points and Taylor Filipek 10 points and eight rebounds. Alec Saunders chipped in with seven points, Isaiah Streed six and Jimmer Neis two.
Willmar reached the championship by beating Sauk Centre 42-17 in the first round, New London-Spicer 56-31 in the quarterfinals and Howard Lake-Waverly/Winsted 49-39 in the semifinals.
Against Sauk Centre, Taylor Filipek had 10 points and Saunders nine. Streed poured in 22 points against New London-Spicer, while Birkland had 11 points and Ryan Filipek 10. Saunders had nine assists.
Taylor Filipek had 11 points and nine rebounds in the semifinals, while Birkland and Saunders added 10 points apiece.
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Willmar is coached by Matt Schroeder and Jon Saunders.
WILLMAR SCORING -- Isaiah Streed 40, Logan Birkland 40, Taylor Filipek 39, Alec Saunders 28, Ryan Filipek 25, Aaron Sagedahl 6, Jimmer Neis 5, John Sawatzky 2
