WILLMAR - A slow start did not keep the Willmar girls basketball team down for long on Friday night.
The No. 5 Cardinals overcame a rough first-half showing to eventually come away with a comfortable victory and remain undefeated with a 63-36 win over St. Cloud Tech on Friday night at Willmar High School.
"It was an ugly first, then an impressive second half," Cardinals head coach Dustin Carlson said. "The girls really got after it and turned up the pressure. It was fun to see them turn it around."
Willmar, which entered as the lone undefeated team remaining in Class AAA trailed 14-8 with six minutes to play in the first half to the 2-12 Tigers. Led by Cayle Hovland and Carly Wedel, shots soon began to fall and the Cardinals entered the break with a 20-19 lead.
The second half brought with it a completely new team from the home side.
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Willmar held Tech to just one field goal over the first 7:37 of the period, using a 19-3 run to burst the game wide open.
Hovland finished with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds as Wedel led all scorers with 16 points and had nine rebounds of her own.
"Cayle was awesome the whole game and Carly was outstanding in the second half," Carlson said.
Now 6-0 in Central Lakes Conference play, the Cardinals will look to maintain sole possession in the conference on Tuesday against Sauk Rapids-Rice.
Willmar 63, SC Tech 36
SC Tech (2-12) 19 17 - 36
Willmar (13-0) 20 43 - 63
ST. CLOUD TECH - Scoring: Cami Koshiol 4, Genaya Murray 9, Kate Martig 14, Meya Washington 8, Hailie Christiansen 1 ... 3-point shots: Koshiol 1, Murray 1, Martig 1, Washington 1 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
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WILLMAR - Scoring: Mackenzie Jones 1, Katelyn Murphy 5, Caitlin Ogdahl 3, Sadie Raitz 3, Jordyn Swoboda 4, Madi Linbo 4, Hannah Johnson 9, Cayle Hovland 13, Carly Wedel 19, Brielle Thorpe 2 ... 3-point shots: Murphy 1, Ogdahl 1, Wedel 1 ... Rebound leader: Hovland 10, Wedel 9, Swoboda 7 ... Assist leader: Seven players with one ... Steal leader: Swoboda 3
NLS 70, Rockford 34
New London-Spicer doesn't trouble itself with QRF rankings.
Rockford entered the game with the better ranking (21) than NLS (34) but the Wildcats exploded for a 45-20 first half to overwhelm the Rockets from the jump. NLS followed that up with a 25-14 second half score to take the win.
Shea Oman led all scorers with 16 points and Mackenzie Rich added 13 points of her own.
Rockford (8-5) 20 14 - 34
New London-Spicer (9-5) 45 25 - 70
ROCKFORD - Scoring: Sydney Manthana 8, Skyler Palmer 2, Ava Cusciotta 4, Madisyn Rentz 1, Logan Henrich 5, Samantha Fitzsimmons 5, Neely Griffin 9 ... 3-point shots: Manthana 1 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
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NEW LONDON-SPICER - Scoring: Ashton Engelke 1, Shea Oman 16, Mackenzie Rich 13, Emma Hanson 4, Payton Mages 10, Grace DeSchepper 7, Ava Kraemer 6, Courtney Caskey 4, Erin Knisley 9 ... 3-point shots: Oman 3, Rich 3, Mages 2 ... Rebound leader: Hanson 10, Knisley 8, Mages 6 ... Assist leader: Oman 5, Mages 3 ... Steal leader: Oman 5, Mages 4
TMB 59, LQPV 58
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton edged Lac qui Parle Valley in arguably the best Camden Conference match of the regular season Friday night.
Kelsea Lund led all scorers with 25 points with five made 3-pointers, six rebounds and three assists. Haley Wollschlager also knocked down five 3-pointers on the way to a 17-point night.
TMB spread its scoring around to eight players including Kaylee Kirk who finished with 22 points. Evelyn Dolan added 12 points to complement Sydney Lanoue's 11 points.
Lac qui Parle Valley will host Montevideo Tuesday in the search for win No. 15.
LQPV (14-2) 31 27 - 58
TMB (12-1) 37 22 - 59
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LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY - Scoring: Haley Wollschlager 17, Kelsea Lund 25, Isabel Schirm 2, Macie Lund 3, Grace Hegland 5, Lindsay Kranz 6 ... 3-point shots: Wollschlager 5, K Lund 5, M Lund 1 ... Rebound leader: Kranz 7, K Lund 6 ... Assist leader: Wollschlager 4, Hegland 3, K Lund 3 ... Steal leader: Wollschlager 3
TRACY-MILROY-BALATON - Scoring: Cassidy Smith 2, Kaylee Kirk 22, Sidney Karbo 5, Samantha Edwards 2, Alecia Christian 3, Sydney Lanoue 11, Evelyn Dolan 12, Laura Karlke 2 ... 3-point shots: Kirk 1, Karbo 1 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
Montevideo 58, ACGC 36
Three Thunder Hawks scored in double figures in a West Central Conference win over ACGC on Friday in Montevideo.
Molly Reeves scored 15 points, Sydney Zindel had 12 and Emmy Enevoldsen finished with 11. Zindel rounded out her double-double with 10 rebounds and she also had three steals.
ACGC's Madison Denton had nine points and Addison Bernstein had six points and five rebounds.
Montevideo plays at Lac qui Parle Valley at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
ACGC (5-7) 20 16 - 36
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Montevideo (4-7) 20 38 - 58
ACGC - Scoring: Jeana Denton 5, Anna Grimsgard 2, Lindsey Minnick 7, Addison Bernstein 6, Pailey Wilner 1, Gabby Lawver 4, Madison Denton 9, Molly Youngblom 2 ... 3-point shots: J. Denton 1 ... Rebound leader: Bernstein 5 ... Assist leader: M. Denton 2, Grimsgard 2 ... Steal leader: NA
MONTEVIDEO - Scoring: Molly Reeves 15, Kamren Saue 5, Emmy Enevoldsen 11, Madalyn Kilibarda 3, Kari Fragodt 4, Sydney Zindel 12, Greta Rongstad 2, Jasmyn Kronback 6 ... 3-point shots: Reeves 1, Saue 1, Enevoldsen 1, Kilibarda 1 ... Rebound leader: Zindel 10, Enevoldsen 5 ... Assist leader: Reeves 4, Enevoldsen 2 ... Steal leader: Zindel 3, Reeves 2
BOLD 71, Melrose 60
Makenna Steffel fell just two steals shy of a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals in BOLD's West Central Conference win on Friday in Olivia.
Makayla Snow registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Brenna Weis scored 14 points.
The Warriors play host to Renville County West at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Melrose (6-8) 30 30 - 60
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BOLD (11-3) 39 32 - 71
MELROSE - Scoring: Ashley Revering 5, Ashley Rademacher 2, Mia Meyer 11, Whitney Austing 4, Makiya Luetmer 30, Courtney Wensman 1, Madison Dufner 7 ... 3-point shots: Austing 1, Luetemer 1 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
BOLD - Scoring: Abby Sigurdson 5, Morgan Schmitz 6, Taylor Sagedahl 9, Makenna Steffel 24, Ashley Trongard 1, Makayla Snow 12, Brenna Weis 14 ... 3-point shots: Schmitz 2, Sagedahl 1, Weis 1 ... Rebound leader: Steffel 12, Snow 10, Sagedahl 5 ... Assist leader: Weis 5, Sigurdson 3 ... Steal leader: Steffel 8, Sigurdson 4
Morris/CA 49, Benson 31
Morris/Chokio-Alberta rode a big second half to a win over Benson on Friday in Morris.
Benson's Kaitlyn Berreau scored 11 points and Abbie Mitteness had seven.
Benson (1-11) 10 21 - 31
Morris/CA (8-6) 17 32 - 49
BENSON - Scoring: Kaitlyn Berreau 11, Abbie Mitteness 7, Courtney McNeill 2, Claire Ricard 2, Anderws 6, Lundebrek 1, Lee 2 ... 3-point shots: Berreau 1, Mitteness 1 ... Rebound leader: Ricard 4, Andrews 4 ... Assist leader: Mitteness 2 ... Steal leader: Andrews 3
MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA - Stats not provided
MACCRAY 37, Lakeview 30
Piper Asche almost recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocked shots in the Wolverines' Camden Conference win over Lakeview on Friday.
MACCRAY's Sydney Schwitters had nine points and four assists and Ellie Thein had six points, four assists and two steals.
MACCRAY (7-8) 13 24 - 37
Lakeview (5-10) 17 13 - 30
MACCRAY - Scoring: Piper Asche 12, Sydney Schwitters 9, Ellie Thein 6, Olivia Ruiter 6, Danni Burns 2, Sage Mecker 2 ... 3-point shots: Asche 1, Thein 1 ... Rebound leader: Asche 10, Gabby Randt 8, Mecker 5 ... Assist leader: Thein 4, Schwitters 4, Mecker 3, Burns 2 ... Steal leader: Thein 2
LAKEVIEW - Scoring: Haley Unke 19, Sierra Plotz 3, Kiana Imes 2, Alexis Lienemann 2, Lizzie Grube 2, Savannah Rausch 2 ... 3-point shots: Unke 2 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
Minneota 76, D-B 49
Lydia Sussner scored 18 points and Lizzy Gillingham and Morgan Hennen both scored 14 to lead Minneota over Dawson-Boyd on Friday in Minneota.
Dawson-Boyd's Alex Sather scored 14 points and she also had seven rebounds. Gionna Parsa had eight points.
Dawson-Boyd (5-8) 21 28 - 49
Minneota (11-3) 41 35 - 76
DAWSON-BOYD - Scoring: Gionna Parsa 8, Hannah Stelter 3, Morgan Johnson 5, Mary Bothun 3, Alex Sather 14, Avery Bartunek 6, Jenna Wyum 6, Kelcee Spencer 2, Olivia Stratmoen 2 ... 3-point shots: Parsa 1, Stelter 1, Johnson 1, Sather 3, Wyum 2 ... Rebound leader: Sather 7, Bothun 5 ... Assist leader: Bartunek 5 ... Steal leader: Bothun 3
MINNEOTA - Scoring: Morgan Kockelman 4, Lizzy Gillingham 14, Morgan Hennen 14, Natalee Rolbiecki 8, Abby Hennen 10, Abby Rost 4, Mariah Muhl 2, Lydia Sussner 18, Hidie Moorse 2 ... 3-point shots: Gillingham 1, A Hennen 2 ... Rebound leader: Gillingham 8 ... Assist leader: Gillingham 3 ... Steal leader: Four players with 3
RTR 52, KMS 37
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton set the tone in a girls-boys doubleheader with a 52-37 win against KMS Friday night.
Madison Rohner led all scorers with 14 points for the Saints and added 10 rebounds to earn the double-double.
KMS will host Benson Tuesday night.
KMS (4-11) 17 20 - 37
RTR (8-7) 24 28 - 52
KMS - Scoring: Katie Krieger 6, Mallory Rudningen 2, Morgan Lesteberg 2, Madison Rohner 14, Courtney Strandberg 2, Maret Gjerde 9, Dacotah Rohner 2 ... 3-point shots: Krieger 1 ... Rebound leader: M Rohner 10 ... Assist leader: Lesteberg 4 ... Steal leader: Lesteberg 4
RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON - Scoring: Brooke Thomsen 6, Makenzie Buchert 7, Chloe Hess 2, Shawna Thomsen 12, Jonni Biren 9, Mya Christensen 8, Catherine Vogt 2, Jackie Dressen 4 ... 3-point shots: Biren 2 ... Rebound leader: NA ... Assist leader: NA ... Steal leader: NA
YME 77, CMCS 52
Madison Hinz hit six 3-point shots and scored 22 points and Anna McCosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds in Yellow Medicine East's victory over Central Minnesota Christian School on Friday in Granite Falls.
Hinz also had eight assists and five steals. Kaitlyn Mortenson had 13 points, seven assists and six steals.
CMCS' Ellie Greenwaldt had 18 points and Elli Stoel had 13 points and eight rebounds.
YME plays Westbrook-Walnut Grove at noon today at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall.
CMCS (1-12) 22 30 - 52
YME (10-4) 39 38 - 77
CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - Scoring: Reegan Duininck 2, Elli Stoel 13, Ellie Greenwaldt 18, Colette Duininck 9, Katelyn Bulthuis 10 ... 3-point shots: Stoel 3, Greenwaldt 1, C Duininck 1 ... Rebound leader: Stoel 8, R Duininck 6, Bulthuis 6 ... Assist leader: C Duininck 4 ... Steal leader: C Duininck 7, R Duininck 4
YELLOW MEDICINE EAST - Scoring: Madison Hinz 22, Anna McCosh 20, Kaitlyn Mortenson 13, Meeghen Dahlager 8, Sam Anderson 6, Mackenzie Dyrdahl 2, Lauren McCosh 2, Hannah Gullickson 2, Kaitlyn Mathiowetz 1, Chelsey Niemeyer 1 ... 3-point shots: Hinz 6, Mortenson 1 ... Rebound leader: A. McCosh 13, Anderson 6 ... Assist leader: Hinz 8, Mortenson 7 ... Steal leader: Mortenson 6, Hinz 5
BBE 83, Paynesville 30
Macie Kirckof scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebound and Jenna Dingman had 11 points in BBE's win over Paynesville on Friday in Brooten.
Morgan Gronli had nine points and Nicole Wesbur had eight.
Paynesville (0-14) 15 15 - 30
BBE (9-4) 45 38 - 83
PAYNESVILLE - Stats not provided
BBE - Scoring: Jacqueline Gossen 4, Grace Illies 4, Cassandra Tensen 3, Jenna Dingmann 11, Morgan Gronli 9, Macie Kirckof 19, Nicole Wesbur 8, Jenna Fischer 6, Brittany Berge 3, Jaden Gossen 6, Kendra Schmitz 4, McKenzie Thieschafer 2, Ally Gruber 4 ... 3-point shots: Tensen 1, Dingmann 3, Gronli 1, Fischer 1, Berge 1, Jaden Gossen 2 ... Rebound leader: Schmitz 6, Kirckof 8 ... Assist leader: Tensen 4 ... Steal leader: Tensen 3
