Hirst, Ellison propel Fergus Falls past Willmar 62-58

Fergus Falls held off a late charge by Willmar to secure a 62-58 Central Lakes Conference victory at the Big Red Gym Tuesday night, a result that tightens the league race and bolsters the Otter Tail County program’s second-half outlook. Ruby Ellison and Carlee Hirst carried the offense, combining for 44 points and a barrage of 3-pointers that Willmar could not fully answer.

Fergus Falls outscored Willmar 27 and 35 in the two halves for a 62-58 final. Ellison led all scorers with 26 points while Hirst added 18. Hattie Fallhart contributed 10, Grace Black had 5, Elizabeth Klinnert scored 2 and Presley Warren added 1. Ellison and Hirst each connected on five 3-pointers; Fallhart hit two and Black made one from long range. Willmar’s Telilie Lange scored a game-high 24 and buried five 3-pointers. Maddie Molacek and Madelyn Swierenga each scored 11, Lyza Gustafson had 6, Aliya Reiman 4 and Emmy Saulsbury finished with 2. Swierenga hit one 3-pointer.

The closing sequence unfolded in dramatic fashion. With 33.7 seconds left, Telilie Lange knocked down a three to pull Willmar within one possession at 59-56. Willmar forced a defensive stop but Lange’s attempt to tie from deep with 21.5 seconds remaining did not fall. Carlee Hirst extended the lead with a free throw to make it 60-56. Madelyn Swierenga responded with a layup at 12.6 seconds to cut the deficit to 60-58, but Hirst iced the game with two free throws with 11.7 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Fergus Falls improved to 5-2 in the Central Lakes Conference and 11-4 overall, strengthening its position as the regular season moves past the midpoint. Willmar dropped to 3-3 in the CLC and 7-7 overall, leaving the program searching for consistency as conference play continues. The tandem of Ellison and Hirst demonstrated perimeter efficiency that will be pivotal for Fergus Falls as the schedule tightens; their combined five 3-pointers apiece underscored a spacing and scoring dynamic that opponents must game-plan for.

For Otter Tail County fans, the win keeps Fergus Falls in the conversation for conference positioning and gives local supporters an example of late-game execution at the Big Red Gym. Willmar faces a stretch of CLC opponents that will test depth and defensive adjustments. The next several league matchups will reveal whether Fergus Falls can convert this momentum into seeding for the postseason and whether Willmar can recover to climb back up the standings.