Boys Basketball: Cards’ long, tough season comes to end

MANKATO - Jake Dale scored 22 points as Mankato West sailed past Willmar 82-65 in the Section 3AAA playoff opener for both teams on Tuesday.
Alex Goettl added 19 points and Jake Makela 14 for the Scarlets.
The loss put the brakes on a tough season for the Cardinals, who were unable to win a conference game since the 1945-46 season.
Willmar finished the year 0-16 in the Central Lakes Conference and 3-27 overall. The Cardinals won just one game - a 72-54 win over Montevideo on Jan. 31 - since picking up two convincing wins during the Bremer Bank Holiday Classic in late December.
Despite the difficult ride all season, head coach Steve Grove said the Cardinals never gave up and he could always count on full effort each night.
Grove said he’s also encouraged that so many of this year’s players will be back.
“The kids always gave me a 100 percent, and 99 percent of them are returning,” Willmar Head Coach Steve Grove said. “It’s a little overwhelming when you first get in there, but the more times you can have success, the better off you can be.”
Mankato West held a 12 point first half lead and were able to carry the momentum into the second half to pull off the win.
The Cardinals were powered by Noah Slagter and Austin Grove with 26 and 17 points, respectively.
Grove, led all players in rebounding by grabbing 14 as the Cardinals concluded the season with a 3-24 record.
Mankato West 82, Willmar 65
Willmar (3-24) 28 37 - 65
Mankato West (20-7) 40 42 - 82
Willmar
21-41 FG; 19-22 FT; 13 fouls … Scoring: Noah Slagter 26, Austin Grove 17, Jay Coquyt 10, Austin Boller 6, Max Doering 4, Tate Hovland 2, … 3-point shots: Slagter 1, Coquyt 2, Boller 1 … Rebound leader: Grove 14 … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a
Mankato West
32-53 FG; 12-16 FT; 16 fouls … Scoring: Jake Makela 14, Burmeister 8, Cole Hundstad 3, Jake Dale 22, Alex Goettl 19, Hunter Frericks 9, Matt Braun 7, … 3-point shots: Makela 4, Hundstad 1, Braun 1 … Rebound leader: Dale 7 … Assist leader: Burmeister 7 … Steal leader: n/a