WILLMAR -- What's clear after Willmar's third decisive win of the new season, it that this is a team with depth -- in scoring, bench strength and defense.
Kyle Townswick and Michael Dunham led the attack on the Sartell Sabres with 18 and 16 points, respectively, as the Cardinals slashed their way to a 72-49 Central Lakes Conference victory on Thursday night.
Eight others scored, including Corey Hanson with nine, Tom Boike with eight and Ryan Hagemeyer with seven. Casey Sussenguth, who led Willmar's scoring column with 14 points in the 71-38 win Tuesday at Alexandria, had only four points this time. With so many weapons, it's hard for the opposing defense to know what to do.
"It's really been unselfish," said Townswick, who made 7 of 11 shots and gave out six helpers. "It's pretty impressive, I'll admit, how we've been scoring but its tough to keep it up with the schedule we've got."
Again Willmar used a first-half surge to establish a separation on the scoreboard.
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Leading 10-8 in the fifth minute, Boike went baseline on a feed from Sussenguth, quickly followed by a Dunham drive and a Seehusen 16 footer from the win.
Matt Seehusen, who had 14 points in the 30-point win over Breckenridge to open the season, scored on a rebound, then it was Townswick from Dunham.
Willmar seemed to be taking target practice. Swift passing set up wide open three-pointers by Dunham, Townswick and Hanson and Townswick again to complete a 31-11 run for a 41-19 lead with five minutes left in the half.
Three players had nine points each for Sartell (1-1), which tippped Fergus Falls 49-48 Tuesday.
Willmar 72, Sartell 49
Sartell (1-1, 1-1) 19 30 -- 49
Willmar (2-0, 3-0) 44 28 -- 72
SARTELL - 17-53 FG (5 3 pt); 10-16 FT; 22 rebounds; 9 fouls ... Scoring: Justin LeBeaux 2, Nick Steve 1, Lukas Inveiss 7, Mike Carlson 9, Luke Smoley 9, Luke Sweeter 9, Sam Jarnot 3, Nick Rengel 2, Tom Kurtz 2, Evan Ziegler 5 ... 3-point shots: Carlson 1, Sweeter 3, Jarnot 1... Rebound leaders: Sweeter 3 ... Assist leader: N. Steve 3 ... Steal leader: Smoley 3
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WILLMAR - 31-53 FG (7-113 pt); 3-4 FT; 41 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Isaiah Streed 2, Kyle Townswick 18, Matt Seehusen 4, Jarod Hennen 2, Cory Hanson 9, Ben Lippert 2, Michael Dunham 16, Casey Sussenguth 4, Ryan Hagemeyer 7, Thomas Boike 8 ... 3-point shots: Townswick 2, Hanson 1, Dunham 4 ... Rebound leaders: Hagemeyer 9, Boike 8, Seehussen 6, Hanson 6, Sussenguth 5... Assist leaders: Townswick 6, Hanson 3 ... Steal leader: Townswick 5 .... Blocked shots: Sussenguth 2
