WILLMAR -- Willmar proved it could bump and grab just as well as Brainerd, winning a herky-jerky Central Lakes Conference boys basketball game 60-51 Friday.
The Cardinals (11-2, 16-3) also proved they could play about nine minutes without leading scorer Kyle Townswick. The senior guard picked up two fouls in the first part of the half and had to sit until halftime.
"The way the game was being called, we didn't want to take the chance," said Willmar coach Steve Grove. "Defensively, teams gear up to stop Kyle. With him out, it's tough to focus on one person."
Brainerd (8-5, 10-7) came out with a physical full-court press and didn't let up the entire game. The Willmar offense handled the pressure well, but couldn't get into rhythm.
It didn't help that the Warriors hounded Townswick and held him to five points in the half. However, Mike Dunham stepped up and scored 10 to lead the Cardinals to a 29-18 lead at the break.
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Undersized Brainerd -- only one regular player listed at 6-foot-5 -- continued to press and bump the Cardinals into a frustrated state. By the first 2½ minutes, the teams combined for six fouls and before the halfway point of the second half, there were over 10 fouls total.
"We were fortunate to get on top to begin with. That's just something you're going to see," Grove said about the physical play. "We didn't do a good job of keeping our composure in some spots and we'll have to work on it."
Willmar made use of the penalties later in the game.
Once both teams reached the double-bonus stage, the Cardinals were able to maintain an 8- to 12-point cushion.
Dunham finished with 11 points and Townswick 10. Ryan Hagemeyer pulled down nine rebounds.
Landon Stanfield had 16 points and Brett Cloutier added 11 more for Brainerd, which shot only 35 percent from the field.
Willmar attempted 20 less shots than the Warriors, but the Cardinals fired at a 55-percent clip.
Willmar 60, Brainerd 51
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Brainerd (8-5, 10-7) 18 -- 51
Willmar (11-2, 16-3) 29 -- 60
BRAINERD - 18-51 FG (8-24 3-pt); 7-14 FT; 22 rebounds; 27 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Crocker 6, Brett Cloutier 11, Jed Magstadt 8, Mitch Means 3, Mike Valesano 2, Kyle Schaible 2, Landon Stanfield 16, Turner Johnson 3 ... 3-point shots: Crocker 2, Magstadt 2, Stansfield 2, Means 1, Johnson 1 ... Rebound, assist, steal leaders not available
WILLMAR - 17-31 FG (5-14 3-pt); 21-34 FT; 27 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Townswick 10, Matt Seehusen 6, Cory Hanson 10, Mike Dunham 11, Jordan Smith 7, Casey Sussenguth 6, Ryan Hagemeyer 7, Tom Boike 3 ... 3-point shots: Townswick 1, Smith 1, Hagemeyer 1, Dunham 2 ... Rebound leaders: Hagemeyer 9, Dunham 7, Seehusen 7 ... Assist leaders: Smith 4, Hagemeyer 4, Boike 4 ... Steal leaders: Townswick 3
