By RAY STRUNK
Special to the Tribune

HOISINGTON — The Russell boys defeated Ellinwood 50-46 in the Cardinal Winter Jam fifth-place game Saturday. Russell avenged a 63-47 loss from the season opener.
This time around, things were different.
“We were better against zone offense,” said Russell coach Eric Swanson. “Our zone offense was the difference.”
After trailing 23-22 at halftime, the Broncos put together a 12-0 third-quarter run to take a six point lead. Ellinwood responded with an 11-0 run that stretched into the fourth quarter to get back on top, 39-34.
The final minutes turned the game around for Russell.
With a 46-43 lead, Ellinwood’s Joel Kasselman was whistled for an offensive foul. Upset about the call, he argued with the referee and got called for a technical. The Broncos converted a free throw as the momentum shifted completely to the Broncos.
Russell (3-8) scored the final seven points including four free throws for a 50-46 victory. Russell converted eight free throws in the fourth quarter.
Russell’s Austin Price scored 19 points and made seven of eight free throws. All-Tournament selection Travis Ochs added 12 points.
Joel Kasselman scored 14 points and All-Tournament selection Tyson Martinez finished with 12. Ellinwood (4-7) plays LaCrosse at home Tuesday.
Ellinwood 16 7 10 13 — 46
Russell 13 9 12 16 — 50
ELLINWOOD—Joel Kasselman 5-7 2-5 14, Nathan Monday 5-12 2-3 13, Tyson Martinez 3-19 4-4 12, Zack Jacobs 2-8 0-0 5, Peyton Duvall 1-4 0-1 2, Totals 16-50 8-13 46.
RUSSELL—Austin Price 4 7-8 19, Travis Ochs 6 0-0 12, Kyle Farmer 3 1-1 9, Koby Decker 2 0-0 4, Matt Buhrle 2 0-0 4, Tanner Brown 1 0-2 2, Totals 18 8-11 50.
3-point goals—E 6-30 (Martinez 2-14, Kasselman 2-2, Monday 1-5, Jacobs 1-6, Duvall 0-3); R 6 (Price 4, Farmer 2). Rebounds—E 27 (Monday 9). Assists—E 12 (Martinez 5). Steals—E 11 (Jacobs 4). TO—E 16.

ALL-TOURAMENT TEAM
HOISINGTON—Cameron Davis, Grant Dolechek, Brenner Donovan-Hoisington
ELLSWORTH—Jordan Base
OTIS-BISON—Kade Urban
MINNEAPOLIS—Jace McKinney, Tre-Vaughn Thomas
RUSSELL—Travis Ochs, Austin Price
ELLINWOOD—Tyson Martinez
FREE THROW WINNER—Tyson Martinez, Ellinwood

CARDINAL WINTER JAM
SATURDAY
1st—Hoisington 63, Ellsworth 51
3rd—Otis-Bison 56, Minenapolis 51
5th—Russell 50, Ellinwood 46
7th—LaCrossse 53, Victoria 37

SECOND ROUND
Hoisington 56, Otis-Bison 39
Ellsworth 53, Minneapolis 36
Ellinwood 56, Victoria 45
Russell 64, LaCrosse 39

FIRST ROUND
Otis-Bison 46, Victoria 32
Hoisington 47, Ellinwood 36
Ellsworth 78, Russell 68
Minneapolis 54, LaCrosse 34