Boys basketball: Cardinals fall to Rocori

COLD SPRING - The Willmar boys basketball team stayed with Central Lakes Conference-leading Rocori well into the second half but couldn’t pull the upset, losing 52-42 on Tuesday.
Noah Slagter hit a 3-point shot to give the Cardinals a 21-21 tie at halftime, and Willmar was within six, 48-42, late in the game.
But the Cardinals couldn’t score again.
“We had our chances but we couldn’t make a bucket,” Cardinals head coach Steve Grove. “The kids played hard. They always play hard and slowly and surely they’re getting better.”
Slagter led the Cardinals with 26 points and he also had five rebounds and a pair of assists. Max Trochlil had six points and Austin Grove had a team-high six rebounds.
The Cardinals play host to Fergus Falls at 7:30 p.m. Friday, then take on Moorhead at 5 p.m. Saturday in Willmar.
Rocori 52, Willmar 42
Willmar (10-2, 15-4) 21 31 - 52
Rocori (0-12, 3-17) 21 21 - 42
Willmar
19-49 FG; 10-16 FT; 9 fouls … Scoring: Noah Slagter 26, Max Trochlil 6, Dakota Tjaden 3, Tate Hovland 3, Austin Grove 3, Austin Boller 1 … 3-point shots: Slagter 4, Tjaden 1, Hovland 1 … Rebound leaders: Grove 6, Slagter 5 … Assist leaders: Slagter 2, Tjaden 2, Hovland 2, Grove 2 … Steal leader: Hovland 2
Rocori
24-62 FG; 7-7 FT; 12 fouls … Scoring: A Overman 16, J Olson 11, C Field 6, D Thompson 6, S Virchow 5, C Schoberg 4, A Stein 4 … 3-point shots: Overman 1, Olson 1, Virchow 1 … Rebound leaders: Thompson 5, Virchow 5 … Assist leader: Overman 4 … Steal leader: Field 5