Boys Basketball 2025: Alexandria turns defense into offense against Byron
Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - 5:39 PM
Alexandria Area is more than its top player.
To wit: two Witts.
Mason Witt led the Cardinals with 18 points and Talan Witt had team-highs of six steals and five assists to go with 15 points as No. 3 seed Alexandria Area pulled away from No. 6 Byron 82-70 in a Boys Basketball State Tournament Class AAA quarterfinal game Tuesday at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
All five Alexandria (27-3) starters scored in double figures, but 6-foot-10 Clemson University recruit Chase Thompson was sidelined with foul trouble during much of a scoreless first half. The Cardinals still led 43-39 at the break and Thompson contributed 10 points in the second half, including four during a 10-0 run that broke a 49-49 tie.
Both Witts also scored during that stretch, as did Gavin Roderick on a two-handed slam, part of his 16-point performance.
Samson Hagstrom added 10 points and five steals; the Cardinals stole the ball 21 times and scored 33 points off turnovers.
Colin Hansen and Will Brian both scored 18 points for Byron (26-4). Hansen grabbed 11 rebounds and Brian buried four 3-pointers.
Up next: It’s a Thursday semifinal against No. 2 Totino-Grace for Alexandria Area with a 2 p.m. tipoff at Williams Arena. Byron heads to Gangelhoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul on Wednesday for a consolation game against Duluth Denfeld at 4 p.m.
