Area Basketball Roundup: Willmar handles St. Cloud Apollo, 64-44

Joe Brown, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·4 min read

Mar. 1—WILLMAR — Before matching up with Alexandria on Tuesday in a showdown of the Central Lakes Conference's top two teams, the Willmar girls basketball team impressed in a Saturday tune-up against St. Cloud Apollo.

Led by strong showings from Mackenzie Jones and Sammy Christoffer, the Cardinals beat the Eagles 64-44 at the Big Red Gym in Willmar.

Jones led all scorers with 20 points — with four 3-pointers — while also hauling in 10 rebounds and two steals. Christoffer was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line to go with 16 points. She also had three steals and three assists.

Apollo had a pair of players in double figures in Keiara Anderson (13) and Serenitie Jackson-Banks (11).

Going into Tuesday's game at Alexandria, Willmar is 9-1 in the CLC while Alexandria sits at 8-1.

Willmar 64,

Apollo 44

Apollo (1-10) 24 20 — 44

Willmar (10-2) 32 32 — 64

ST. CLOUD APOLLO — Scoring: Jaida Hansen 8, Keshona McGaughy 7, Keiara Anderson 13, Lauren Freeman 2, Serenitie Jackson-Banks 11, Sa'Ronn Robinson 3 ... 3-point shots: McGaughy 1, Anderson 1, Banks 1 ... Rebound leader: N/A ... Assist leader: N/A ... Steal leader: N/A ... Block leader: N/A

WILLMAR — Scoring: Sammy Christoffer 16, Brielle Ogdahl 2, Ellary Lange 6, Zoe Schroeder 3, Mackenzie Jones 20, Emily Staska 3, Kenedee Salonek 2, Callie Slagter 2, Jaida Reiman 8, Ella Shinn 2 ... 3-point shots: Jones 4, Reiman 1 ... Rebound leader: Jones 10 ... Assist leader: Christoffer 3 ... Steal leader: Christoffer 3 ... Block leader: None

Boys Basketball

RCW 82,

R-T-R 63

With four players in double figures, No. 9 (Class A) Renville County West held off a 32-point effort from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton's Aide Wichmann to get the Camden Conference win Saturday in Renville.

Riley Ashburn approached a triple-double with 23 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Brandon Hoberg followed with 21 points, Tyler Froland had 16 points and Jaden Kolker talled 15 in the victory.

RCW is back at home to play MACCRAY at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

R-T-R (7-5) 29 34 — 63

RCW (10-2) 52 30 — 82

RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON — Scoring: Aiden Wichmann 32, Tucker Haroldson 2, Derrick Bartman 7, Jonah Christensen 3, Camden Hansen 2, Dylan Anderson 5, Hayden Gravley 8, Matt Weber 2, Drew Wenkman 2 ... 3-point shots: Wichmann 4, Christensen 1, Gravely 1 ... Rebound leader: N/A ... Assist leader: N/A ... Steal leader: N/A ... Block leader: N/A

RENVILLE COUNTY WEST — Scoring: Adam Schrupp 2, Brandon Hoberg 21, Riley Ashburn 23, Tyler Froland 16, Nathan Schmidt 2, Jaden Kolker 15, Landon Tanner 3 ... 3-point shots: Froland 2, Tanner 1 ... Rebound leader: Ashburn 8 ... Assist leader: Ashburn 8, Hoberg 5 ... Steal leader: Ashburn 5 ... Block leader: Schrupp 2

Morris/CA 67,

CMCS 55

In a ranked battle between Class AA and A teams, Morris/Chokio-Alberta used a strong second half to defeat Central Minnesota Conference in non-conference play Saturday in Morris.

The Tigers are 10th in Class AA while the Bluejays are 10th in A.

Morris/CA's Jackson Loge went off for 31 points. He also tallied nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Behind him was Thomas Tiernan, who hit four 3-pointers in a 14-point outing. Brandon Jergenson added eight points and seven assists.

Case Mulder led the Bluejays with 23 points, hitting four 3-pointers in the process. Ben Van Eps had 13 points, followed by 11 from Ethan Bulthuis.

Morris/CA concludes its four-game homestand at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Melrose. CMCS is back on the road against Dawson-Boyd at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

CMCS (10-3) 30 25 — 55

Morris/CA (12-1) 30 37 — 67

CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN — Scoring: Ethan Bulthuis 11, Case Mulder 23, Blake Greenwaldt 2, Ben Van Eps 13, Caleb Vander Beek 6 ... 3-point shots: Bulthuis 3, Mulder 4 ... Rebound leader: Greenwaldt 6 ... Assist leader: Greenwaldt 5 ... Steal leader: Mulder 2 ... Block leader: Van Eps 1

MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA — Scoring: Durgin Decker 2, Brandon Jergenson 8, Thomas Tiernan 14, Riley Reimers 7, Jackson Loge 31, Toby Gonnerman 5 ... 3-point shots: Jergenson 1, Tiernan 4, Reimers 1, Loge 2 ... Rebound leader: Loge 9 ... Assist leader: Jergenson 7 ... Steal leader: Loge 2 ... Block leader: Loge 4