Basketball Recap: Willmar Picks Up Sixth Consecutive Win

Cardinals

Previous 6 Games

01/03/26 @ Monticello	66-62
12/30/25 vs New London-Spicer	65-48
12/29/25 vs MACCRAY	69-42
12/16/25 vs Rocori	47-41
12/11/25 @ Sauk Rapids-Rice	58-54
12/04/25 @ Fergus Falls	83-72

Willmar extended their winning streak to six on Saturday, bumping them up to 6-0. They came within four points of losing the streak, but they secured a 66-62 W against the Monticello Magic. While the Cardinals didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-17), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

As for Monticello, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 5-4. Magic fans who chose to attend the game sure picked the wrong one: it was the first time the team has lost against Willmar since Saturday.

Monticello's loss came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Carson Deibele, who shot 56% from the field on his way to 25 points. The contest was Deibele's fourth in a row with at least 18 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Rhys Nebben, who posted 14 points along with eight assists and eight rebounds.

Willmar has already played their next game, a 76-57 win against Zimmerman on the 5th. As for Monticello, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next matchup, an 85-77 victory against Delano on the 5th.