The Willmar Cardinals secured a thrilling victory over the Fergus Falls Otters, winning 56-53 in overtime during the Section 8AAA semifinals on March 14, 2024. This victory marks the Cardinals’ first appearance in a section championship game since the 2018-19 season, as they aim for their first state tournament trip since 2018.
Maddison Molacek, a key player for Willmar, emphasized the importance of family within the team. “In the locker room before the Fergus Falls game, it was more like, ‘This is our family, and we cannot let this be the last time that this family’s together,’” she explained. This sentiment fueled the Cardinals’ determination on the court.
The upcoming championship game pits the Cardinals (17-11) against the top-seeded Little Falls Flyers (22-6) at Little Falls Community High School at 19:00 on Thursday. Willmar will seek to avenge a previous defeat to Little Falls, who triumphed 46-35 during the regular season, holding the Cardinals to just 25% shooting.
Key Matchups and Strategies
For the Cardinals, containing star guard Malin Youngberg will be crucial. The talented 6-foot sophomore is verbally committed to play at Division I South Dakota State University. Willmar head coach Brendan Hedtke noted Youngberg’s skills, calling her “probably the best player in the section.”
Willmar’s defensive strategy will include a combination of player matchups, including Telilie Lange and Madelyn Swierenga, along with a zone defense designed to slow Youngberg. Despite holding her to 14 points in their regular-season contest, Hedtke cautioned that the Flyers have other capable shooters, such as sophomores Khloe Schlagel and Reese Becker, and even Malin’s eighth-grade sister, Ehlin.
“If (Malin’s) sharing the ball and getting her teammates involved, it’s really hard to defend,” Hedtke said. “But if it’s an off night, then that makes things a little bit easier.”
Overcoming Adversity
The Cardinals’ journey this season has been marked by challenges, including the loss of starting guard Isley Ripperger to a torn ACL early in the season. In mid-January, Willmar faced a five-game losing streak, including their earlier defeat against Little Falls.
In the semifinal game against Fergus Falls, Willmar demonstrated resilience. Trailing by seven points in the final 90 seconds, Lange scored the Cardinals’ last eight points in regulation, tying the game at 50-50. In overtime, Willmar limited the Otters to just three points, with Molacek securing a crucial steal to clinch the game.
Hedtke remarked on the team’s growth throughout the season, noting, “We’ve had a bunch of close games against some really good schools… But we just hadn’t been able to get over the hump of winning those close games.”
Molacek expressed her desire to make a family trip to the state tournament in Minneapolis. “Pressure is a privilege,” she stated. “It’s a privilege to be in this position and be with this team. This is a very special group of girls, and we have every capability to win this game on Thursday.”
As the Cardinals prepare for the championship, the energy is high, and the focus is clear. Willmar aims to continue their family journey while striving for success on the basketball court.
