Girls basketball roundup: Alex starts strong to handle Willmar
Feb. 1—WILLMAR — The Willmar girls basketball team had a slow start in its loss to Alexandria on Thursday at the Big Red Gym.
Willmar trailed 22-2 at one point in the first half before its 72-46 loss against Alexandria. Alexandria, ranked No. 3 in Class AAA by the Minnesota Basketball News, is 10-0 in the Central Lakes Conference and 17-2 overall. Willmar is 5-5 in conference play and 9-11 overall.
Alexandria was paced by Hadley Thul. The 6-foot-2 junior was in double figures in scoring by halftime. She has been receiving Division I collegiate offers, the most recent one from the University of Wisconsin, which she announced via social media on Jan. 29.
Willmar had two scorers finish in double figures. Sophomore guard Telilie Lange had 14 points, adding seven rebounds, three steals and three assists. Freshman forward Maddison Molacek scored 11 points with six rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block.
Willmar shot 32.7% from the field, making 16 of 49 and 11.1% from beyond the 3-point arc, 2 of 18.
Willmar next hosts Tartan at 2:45 p.m. Saturday back at the Big Red Gym.
BOLD picked off 15 steals, led by four apiece from Lainey Braulick, Layla Pfarr and Lilly Henriksen, in BOLD's victory over Melrose at Olivia.
Braulick had 11 points, as did Kenzie Visser. Visser also had 18 rebounds and three steals.
Kaitlyn Klasen led the Dutchmen with eight points.
BOLD goes to Canby at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Sauk Centre, ranked 10th in Class AA by the Minnesota Basketball News, beat Minnewaska at Glenwood.
The Mainstreeters have a 16-3 record. Minnewaska falls to 14-6.
Minnewaska plays Redwood Valley at 1 p.m. Saturday at Redwood Falls.
Montevideo boosted its record to 5-13 with the non-conference victory over Benson at Montevideo.
The Braves fall to 5-12.
Benson next goes to Ashby at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The Thunder Hawks next play host to Morris/Chokio-Alberta at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Montevideo.
