The Willmar girls basketball team secured a thrilling 56-53 overtime victory against Fergus Falls in the Section 8AAA semifinals on March 7, 2024. This win marks a significant milestone for the Cardinals, as they advance to their first section championship game since the 2018-19 season.
Maddison Molacek, a standout player on the team, emphasized the familial bond that propelled the Cardinals to victory. “In the locker room before the game, it was more about family than just strategy,” she said. “We cannot let this be the last time that this family’s together.” The Cardinals are now set to face the top-seeded Little Falls Flyers in the championship game at 19:00 local time at Little Falls Community High School.
With a record of 17-11, the Cardinals are eager to return to the state tournament for the first time since their back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018. The Flyers, boasting a record of 22-6, aim to qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 1991. “Little Falls plays very similar to Fergus,” Molacek noted, expressing confidence in her team’s ability to replicate their successful performance.
Earlier in the season, the two teams faced off, with Little Falls emerging victorious in a 46-35 game on January 17. In that encounter, the Flyers limited the Cardinals to just 25% shooting, while Willmar held Little Falls to 30%. The Cardinals aim to improve their shooting percentage while effectively neutralizing the Flyers’ star guard, Malin Youngberg.
Youngberg, a 6-foot sophomore, is verbally committed to play at Division I South Dakota State University. Willmar head coach Brendan Hedtke acknowledged her talent, stating, “Some would say she’s probably the best player in the section.” The Cardinals plan to deploy a combination of Telilie Lange, Madelyn Swierenga, and their zone defense to limit Youngberg’s impact.
In the semifinal against Fergus Falls, Willmar overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 90 seconds of regulation. Lange scored the Cardinals’ last eight points, including a crucial basket that sent the game into overtime tied at 50-50. In overtime, Willmar’s defense shone, allowing just three points, while Molacek secured the win with a decisive steal.
“This win was significant for us,” Hedtke said, reflecting on the team’s journey through adversity this season. The Cardinals lost starting guard Isley Ripperger to a torn ACL early in the season and faced a five-game losing streak in January. Despite these challenges, the team’s resilience has been evident.
Molacek highlighted the importance of teamwork in their recent success. “Us winning on Saturday was because we played as a family,” she said. As Willmar prepares for the championship game, she is determined to lead her teammates to a state tournament appearance. “Pressure is a privilege,” Molacek asserted. “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.”
