Warriors handle their week of contrasts

While the Brainerd High School boys' basketball team has fallen in its previous two contests, the Warriors have proven they can play with any type of team.

On Friday, the Warriors lost a tight 71-65 Central Lakes Conference game to the small, quick Alexandria Cardinals. On Tuesday, they were beaten 86-66 by Duluth East and 6-foot-10 Rick Rickert.

"Tuesday, we had to spread things out," Brainerd coach Brad Amundson said. "We had some mismatches tonight so we wanted to get the ball inside more. It's just a matter of where you can get some good looks.

"To be a tourney caliber-type team you have to play both ways. You can be successful no matter who you are playing."

Against Rickert and the Greyhounds, Brainerd had to shoot primarily from the outside. In the second half against the Cardinals, Matt Yde, Mike Zauhar and Mitch Feierabend found the ball in the post more often.

Alexandria starts no player taller than 6-foot-3 and the Warriors' tallest player is 6-4.

"We felt we'd be playing against a team just like us," Alexandria coach John Holsten said. "Our goal now is to get us to play as hard as they do."

Yde leads offense again

Yde, a 6-3 senior forward, came off the bench and led the Warriors in scoring for the second straight game. He recorded 23 points Friday on 10 of 18 shooting and scored 25 on Tuesday.

"He can score for us," Amundson said. "He posted up hard for us and guys did a good job of getting him the ball. He has the tools to light it up and he's playing his role very well."

Yde has shown he has a versatile game. He scored with his back to the basket, slashing the hoop, on the fast break, and from the outside on Friday.

"I like the way he takes the ball to the basket and the way he shoots the ball," Holsten said. "He had his way with those matchups."