With five games played in the 2017-18 season, Willmar (5-0, 1-0) has already equaled half of its total win count from the '16-17 campaign. The Cardinals have come rushing out of the gate, winning each of their first five games by at least 16 points.
Senior Noah Slagter leads Willmar in scoring with 19 points per game, followed by junior pair Drey Dirksen and Ty Roelofs, who both chip in 11.5 a game. The Cardinals currently sit in third place in the Central Lakes Conference standings, just a half game behind Brainerd and St. Cloud Tech teams that have already played twice in the conference.
The Tigers have also started the season well, with their only loss coming to No. 7-4A Lakeville North on Dec. 9. Despite losing big in that game — the final score was 71-42 — St. Cloud Tech (4-1, 2-0) has not flinched, going on the defeat St. Michael-Albertville 63-60 on Dec. 12 and St. Cloud Apollo 62-55 on Dec. 14.
University of Minnesota football commit Brevyn Spann-Ford is the main threat for the Tigers, averaging 23.3 points and seven rebounds per game. However, it is not a one-man operation, with seniors James Kaczor and Trent Meyer averaging 11 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
St. Cloud Tech won the Central Lakes Conference last season, and a win in this game would give the Tigers a solid head start in retaining the title. However, if Willmar can continue its hot start to the season, the Cardinals will be in prime position to avoid finishing in the conference's bottom three for the first time since 2013-14, and maybe even go on to win the conference for the first time since the 2011-12 season.