WILLMAR -- The Willmar Cardinals were on target all evening, but couldn't shake a good Brainerd team until the final minute to grab an 80-67 Central Lakes Conference boys basketball game on Tuesday, 80-67.
Willmar improved to 11-0 in the CLC and 13-3 overall with Alexandria up next on Friday on the road.
The Cardinals shot 64 percent (29 of 45). Casey Sussenguth hit 9-of-14 from the field all six of his free-throw attempts for 25 points. Jordan Smith made 7-of-10 shots and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Taylor Filipek added 11 points, Ryan DeGree 10, Michael Dunham eight and Isaiah Streed six.
Willmar led by 10 points at halftime, but the Warriors closed to 54-50, forcing Willmar to call a second time out.
Sussenguth hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to start a Willmar run that rebuilt the lead to 10 again.
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"They (Brainerd) were really hitting the threes," said Sussenguth. "After the time out we pushed the tempo and got them scrambling a little defensively to find their coverage and we got some easy layups."
Junior Ben Gervais, who hit three 3s in a row in the rally, said Brainerd's game plan was to cool off Smith and Dunham, who hurt them the first time with 3s.
"But we had to watch Sussenguth, too," he said. "Willmar is a good team."
Brainerd is also solid, and young. Sophomore Kyle Crocker led them with 19 points on four 3s and 6-5 sophomore Aaron Pavek had eight points.
At the line, Willmar nailed 17 of 21.
Willmar 80, Brainerd 67
Brainerd (8-4, 10-5) 32 35 -- 67
Willmar (11[-0, 13-3) 42 38 -- 80
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BRAINERD - 26-49 FG (7-16 3-pt); 8-10 FT; 20 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Jon Wiese 6, Jed Magstadt 14, Ben Gervais 14, Kyle Crocker 19, Sam Feyder 6, Aaron Pavek 8... 3-point shots: Gervais 3, Crocker 4 ... Rebound leaders: Mike Valesano 4 ... Assist leaders: Magstadt 3 ... Steal leaders: Magstadt 5
WILLMAR - 29-45 FG (5-12 3-pt); 17-21 FT; 34 rebounds; 11 fouls ... Scoring: Adam Lindblad 4, Jordan Smith 16, Casey Sussenguth 25, Mike Dunham 8, Isaiah Streed 6, Taylor Filipek 11, Ryan DeGree 10 ... 3-point shots: Smith 1, Sussenguth 1, Dunham 2, Filipek 1 ... Rebound leaders: Smith 15 Sussenguth 6, Filipek 4, DeGree 4 ... Assist leaders: Lindblad 3, Smith 3, Filipek 3, DeGree 4... Steal leaders: Sussenguth 2, Dunham 3.... Blocked shots; Sussenguth 2
