Alexandria boys' basketball: Cardinals down St. Cloud Tech

• Bistodeau

Brandon Bistodeau helped the Cardinals avenge an earlier loss to St. Cloud Tech as he scored five points in a 53-51 win over the Tigers Tuesday. (Eric Morken, Echo Press)

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The last time the Cardinal boys faced St. Cloud Tech, they suffered an eight-point loss to the Tigers. This time, there was a better outcome.

Key free throws in the waning minutes of the game and solid defense held off Tech for a 53-51 win, improving the Cardinals’ record to 10-11 overall and 5-8 in Central Lakes Conference play.

“The game would be back-and-forth early,” said head coach Forrest Witt, “with neither team able to get into much of a groove on the offensive end.

“The Cards would begin to move the basketball much more efficiently against the Tigers’ zone defenses, which opened up numerous scoring opportunities and an eventual 10-point lead going into the halftime break.”

That lead slipped away in the second half as St. Cloud Tech closed the gap to four early, making Alexandria work to stay in the lead.

“While Alex controlled most of the second half, Tech would keep the game within striking distance throughout,” said Witt. “Some key free throws in the final minutes and a few defensive stops sealed the win.”

Tech had a chance with 13 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime, inbounding the ball under the Tigers’ basket, but failed to score.

Logan Doyle and John Vogeler each had 11 points in the win, with Joe Gorghuber adding 10.

Doyle also had 13 rebounds for a double-double.

Tiger Andy Foley led all scorers with 28.

The Cards travel to Willmar today, Friday, in CLC play, and will be at St. Cloud Apollo on Monday.

ALEXANDRIA 53, ST. CLOUD TECH 51

ALEXANDRIA 30 23 — 53

ST. CLOUD TECH 20 31 — 51

ALEXANDRIA – Brandon Bistodeau 5, John Vogeler 11, Joe Gorghuber 10, Travis Krueger 5, Chase Kohler 7, David Krivanek 4, Logan Doyle 11. Field goals 20-37, 3-pt 4-15 (Bistodeau 1, Vogeler 1, Krueger 1, Kohler 1), Free throws 9-13, Rebounds 29 (Doyle 13, Gorghuber 7), Assists 11 (Vogeler 4, Kohler 3), Blocked shots 3 (Doyle 2, Krivanek 1), Steals 5 (Vogeler 2), Turnovers 18.

ST. CLOUD TECH – Andy Foley 28, Sam Schoborg 6, Jay Kedrowski 5, Phil Amundson 5, Ryan Kunkel 3, Jake Martig 2, Isaac Matchinsky 2.

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, boys, basketball