WILLMAR -- A fast start enabled Willmar to improve to 10-0 in the Central Lakes Conference as the Cardinals won their fifth straight game by upending Sartell 75-48 Thursday.
The Cardinals are off to their best start in the CLC since going 12-0 during the 2003-04 campaign.
Three quick layups from senior Casey Sussenguth, who led Willmar (12-3) with 21 points, and five points from sophomore Taylor Filipek enabled the Cardinals to take an 11-2 lead only 2:20 into the game.
Sartell (3-8, 7-10) eventually got within four with 4:05 left in the half. But driving layups by Michael Dunham, Adam Lindblad and Filipek -- in just over a one-minute span -- allowed Willmar to push its lead back into double digits.
"It was nice to get off to a good start like that," said Willmar coach Steve Grove. "We shot well and also protected the ball."
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The Cardinals were 31-for-50 (62 percent) from the floor -- 7-for-14 from three-point range -- and committed only eight turnovers.
Filipek followed Sussenguth with 12 points while Jordan Smith and Ryan DeGree added 10 more apiee. DeGree (12 rebounds), Sussenguth (10 rebounds) and Smith (10 rebounds) also collected double-doubles.
Willmar will take a break from its CLC schedule to play at Class AA No. 6 Montevideo (15-2) on Saturday night. The Thunder Hawks have been averaging 89 points a game in a current five-game winning streak.
Willmar 75, Sartell 48
Sartell (3-8, 7-10) 26 22 -- 48
Willmar (10-0, 12-3) 34 41 -- 75
SARTELL - 18-47 FG (6-11 3-pt); 6-9 FT; 25 rebounds; 12 fouls ... Scoring: Justin LaBeaux 9, Nicholas Kirick 2, Sam Jarnot 12, Kyle Mareck 5, Thomas Kutz 4, Lukas Inveiss 4, Evan Ziegler 7, Keaton Hauser 2, Michael Nielson 2, Grant Borgeson 1 ... 3-point shots: Jarnot 4, LaBeux 1, Mareck 1 ... Rebound, assist and steal leaders not available
WILLMAR - 31-50 FG (7-14 3-pt); 6-10 FT; 48 rebounds; 11 fouls ... Scoring: Casey Sussenguth 21, Taylor Filipek 12, Ryan DeGree 10, Adam Lindblad 5, Michael Dunham 8, Jordan Smith 10, Isaiah Streed 5, Sam Esboldt 2, James Neis 2 ... 3-point shots: Filipek 2, Lindblad 1, Dunham 2, Smith 2 ... Rebound leaders: DeGree 12, Smith 10, Sussenguth 10, Filipek 5 ... Assist leaders: Filipek 6, Smith 4, Dunham 4 ... Steal leaders: Dunham 3, Zak Coquyt 2
