Cards use stout D to defeat Tigers

WILLMAR - The adage goes that defense wins championships.

There was no championship on the line for the Willmar girls' basketball team on Thursday night, but it won the Cardinals the game.

Willmar held St. Cloud Tech to 25.6 percent shooting and 13 first-half points in a 42-29 win at Willmar Senior High School.

Hannah Johnson and Carly Wedel led the Cardinals with eight points each.

In a game where points were at a premium, Willmar took advantage of 21 turnovers by the Tigers, stifling the opposition with full-court pressure on the ball.

After a six-minute field goal drought to start the game, the Cardinals eventually broke through and kept the pressure on defensively, holding a 19-13 lead at halftime.

Willmar's defense has been a stalwart throughout the season, but Thursday's game marked the first time it held the opposition under 30 points. In 10 of the Cardinals' 16 games, they have held the opponent under 50 points.

With the win, Willmar jumped into fourth place in the Central Lakes Conference, and is on the road against Zimmerman in a non-conference game on Friday night.

Willmar 42, SC Tech 29

SC Tech (6-10) 13 16 - 29

Willmar (9-7) 19 23 - 42

ST. CLOUD TECH - Stats not provided.

WILLMAR - Scoring: Abby Berskow 6, Grace Sawyer 5, Kayla Rudie 1, Jordyn Swoboda 2, Madi Linbo 2, Hannah Johnson 8, Cayle Hovland 6, Carly Wedel 8, Heidi Sellmann 4 ... 3-point shots: Berskow 1 ... Rebound leader: Johnson 6, Sellmann 6... Assist leader: Rudie 3 ... Steal leader: Sellmann 6

1/5: Curt Hogg/ Tribune Hannah Johnson, Willmar, attempts a layup on Thursday night against St. Cloud Tech. Johnson scored eight points and the Cardinals defeated the Tigers, 42-29.

2/5: Curt Hogg/ Tribune Grace Sawyer comes off a screen as the Willmar girls' basketball takes on St. Cloud Tech at Willmar Senior High School on Jan. 26, 2017.

3/5: Curt Hogg/ Tribune Kayla Rudie takes the court as the Willmar girls' basketball takes on St. Cloud Tech at Willmar Senior High School on Jan. 26, 2017.

4/5: Curt Hogg/ Tribune Willmar forward Heidi Sellmann looks to create offense during the first half of Thursday night's 42-29 win over St. Cloud Tech at Willmar High School.

5/5: Curt Hogg/ Tribune Willmar's Cayle Hovland drives to the basket during the first half against St. Cloud Tech on Thursday night at Willmar High School. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers, 42-29.