WILLMAR 59, FERGUS FALLS 53
In a key Central Lakes battle Thursday night, #6AAA Willmar dodged an upset bid by #10AAA Fergus Falls. The host Cardinals overcame a 10 point deficit with nine minutes remaining (47-37) on senior night and outscored the Otters 22-6 down the stretch leaving the home town fans relieved and helping the post game senior party. The host team didn’t get their first lead until four minutes were left in the game. The bigger Cardinals outrebounded the Otters by ten and took away inside opportunities with five blocks.
Thanks to a differing line up Willmar was off the blocks slow to start the game. Miscommunication and mismatches on defense allowed FF senior guard Katelyn Strand to get wide open looks beyond the arc. Strand ended up as the leading scorer with 20 and racked up 15 by the nine minute mark. Once Willmar figured out who number 11 was, she only had five points the rest of the night. Strand ended up shooting 67% from deep. The biggest margin in the first half for the Otters came at 19-11. By half Fergus was up 28-24.
The second half the Cardinals started with their normal five, but still struggled. Willmar cut the lead to 34-32. Four straight scores by FF and seven of eight possessions put the Otters in the driver’s seat at 47-37 with nine minutes left capped by Strand’s final 3. Willmar stopped the bleeding with a time out. Hannah Johnson then took over for the Cards scoring six straight points. That initiated a seven straight scoring spree and appropriately senior Cayle Hovland tied it at 49. The first lead came on a three by sophomore Madison Linbo (52-49). A 3 by FF 8th grader Tori Ratz cut the margin to 54-53 with 2:26 left, but the Otters could get no closer and would not score again as Willmar shut the door.
Willmar won the first match up also by six, 64-58.
One facet of the game that Willmar needs to address soon before sections is their 33% mark at the free throw line. They got there 12 more times than FF, but only made 3 more.
Willmar is now 18-2 on the year; 9-2 in the Central Lakes. FF is now 15-6; 8-5 in the CLC.
I have now charted 62% of the AAA teams. With the top 100 the mark is 90. Ten more teams left to go. Not all teams will be crossed off before sections start however with nine more regular season dates available.
| Team | PP100 | scorer | Distributor | D stops |
| Willmar | 93.7 | Hannah Johnson 19 | Hannah Johnson 7 | Carly Wedel 9 |
| Fergus Falls | 84.1 | Katelyn Strand 20 | Two with 5 | Lily Pearson 8 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Willmar’s 5-10 junior guard Hannah Johnson (also the only non-senior starter today).