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Mar 27, 2008 10:48 pm US/Central
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3A Semifinals: St. Thomas 56, Willmar 35
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
Billy Chapman and Michael Fitzgerald each scored 11 points as St. Thomas Academy beat Willmar 56-35 in the semifinals of the Class 3A boys' basketball tournament at Target Center on Thursday night.
The Cadets, using a tight man-to-man defense, held Willmar to 20 points less than their previous season low. The Cardinals had been averaging more than 70 points coming in to the game.
The only player they couldn't stop was senior Casey Sussenguth, who scored 15 of Willmar's 16 points in the first half, finishing with 22.
Sussenguth was credited with two more points at the end of the half, but the call was overturned after video replays showed that the ball didn't leave his hand before the buzzer. The shot would've brought Willmar within seven, and appeared to be a turning point as the Cadets outscored Willmar 31-21 in the second half.
While Sussenguth was scoring 63 percent of the Cardinals' points, the scoring was much more even for the Cadets. No player had more than 11 points.
After starting the season 9-5, the second-seeded Cadets have now won 15 of their past 16 games, finishing the season 22-6 and fourth in the season-ending AP poll.
The Cadets will play Benilde-St. Margaret's in the 3A championship Saturday at 6 p.m. The Red Knights finished the season ranked No. 1 and scored 100 points against Henry in the semifinal.
St. Thomas Academy as a school will be looking for its third state championship this winter season, after winning titles in boys' swimming and boys' hockey.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)