Cromwell Advances In Section 7A Playoffs

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Mar 6, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cromwell Cardinals open their 2011-2012 Section 7A playoffs with a 74-68 victory over the Wrenshall Wrens on Tuesday night at Cromwell High School. The Cardinals finished off the three game sweep of the Wrens this season with the playoff victory.

Cromwell and Wrenshall battled in a close tight first half with Cromwell holding a five point 31-26 lead at the break. The second half was even tighter as only one point difference was scored in the second half between the teams.

In a very close game the teams were fairly even as both teams connected on five 3-pointers, Pat Gustafson had three, and Pat O’Connor two for Wrenshall; while Jared Hutar and Josh Oliver finished with two each for Cromwell.

Austin Johnson also connected on a 3-pointer for the Cardinals. Both teams were also very close at the free throw line as Cromwell finished 16-20 from the charity stripe while the Wrens were 15-20 for the night.

The Cardinals were led by Jake Ramberg, who scored 26 points in the victory. Jared Hutar added 19, Austin Johnson 12, Josh Oliver 10, Joe Couture, Richard Olson, and Luis Martins 2 each and it was Alex Hakamaki with 1 point.

The Wrenshall Wrens were led by Pat Gustafson, who finished with 22 points. Peter Granholm added 12, it was Mitch Frank who chipped in with 11, Jared Kittle scored 10, Matt O’Connor added 9, and Derek Duncan finished with 4 points on the night.

The Cardinals, with the win improve to 10-15 on the season overall and they move on to the second round of the Section 7A playoffs where they will face Cook County Thursday evening at Hermantown High School at 7:45 pm. The Wrenshall Wrens season ends Tuesday night as Wrenshall finishes the season 1-22 overall.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com