WILLMAR — With a high-pressure defense setting the tone, Alexandria can pile on the points.

Against Willmar on Thursday night, that all-around ability was on full display.

Forcing Willmar into 16 turnovers and 24.5% shooting from the field, Alexandria ran away with a 70-38 Central Lakes Conference victory at the Big Red Gym.

Willmar was actually the first team on the board when Alex Schramm hit a layup. But Alexandria went on an 11-point run. Schramm broke that run with a turnaround jumper, only for Alexandria to score the next 13 points for a 24-4 lead with 9 minutes, 34 seconds left before the break.

Willmar went on a 10-0 run of its own to cut the deficit down to 24-14 with 2:13 before intermission.

Alexandria, ranked 11th in Class AAA, went into the locker room with a 30-16 halftime lead.

And from there, Alexandria took over in the second half, outscoring Willmar 40-22 in the final 18 minutes.

The final tally was actually below Alexandria’s scoring average this season. Coming into Thursday’s game, Alexandria was 10th in Class AAA at 73.7 points per game.

Colton Roderick scored a game-high 24 points and had six steals for Alexandria. Erik Hedstrom had a double-double with 19 points — 15 coming in the first half — and 10 rebounds. Kirsten Hoskins chipped in with 18.

Schramm hit three 3-pointers on the way to a Willmar-best 13 points. Ross Minnick had seven points while Chase Dirksen finished with six.

Willmar is host to Sartell at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Alexandria 70,
Willmar 38

Alexandria (8-0) 30 40 — 70

Willmar (4-4) 16 22 — 38

ALEXANDRIA - Scoring: Myles Sansted 2, Wyatt Odland 3, Kristen Hoskins 18, Erik Hedstrom 19, Colton Roderick 24, Kobe Jenson 4 … 3-point shots: Odland 1, Hoskins 3, Hedstrom 2, Roderick 4 … Rebound leader: Hedstrom 10, Carter Steffensmeier 8 … Assist leader: Hoskins 4 … Steal leader: Roderick 6 ... Block leader: None

WILLMAR - Scoring: Hunter Magnuson 2, Jacob Rosendahl 5, Cayden Hansen 3, Chase Dirksen 6, Alex Schramm 13, Blake Schoolmeester 2, Ross Minnick 7 … 3-point shots: Rosendahl 1, Schramm 3, Minnick 1 … Rebound leader: Rosendahl 5, Hansen 5 … Assist leader: Rosendahl 2, Dirksen 2 … Steal leader: Magnuson 2, Rosendahl 2 ... Block leader: Dirksen 1

1/2: Willmar junior Cayden Hansen makes a jump pass out to the perimeter during Thursday's Central Lakes Conference game against Alexandria at the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

2/2: Willmar senior Chase Dirksen (left) and sophomore Blake Schoolmeester (23) contest a shot by Alexandria's Erik Hedstrom in the first half of Thursday's Central Lakes Conference game at the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School. Hedstrom made the bucket after taking a foul. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune