BHS owns the post - and a win

MOORHEAD - The Brainerd Warriors held 6-foot-4 post Miki Stephenson to just six points in the second half and hit their free throws down the stretch to collect a 49-45 Section 8-4A road win over the Moorhead Spuds Saturday.

• Photos

Tess Rahto led the Warriors with 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. She got the call to shut down Stephenson and Warriors head coach Carl Hendrickson said she did her job well.

Tess Rahto

"We changed up our defenses on them quite a bit just to keep the ball out of Stephenson's hands as much as we could," said Hendrickson. "The first half she scored 11 points and Tess got into foul trouble. But in the second half, and even with four fouls, she held her to six."

Gretchen Kletscher added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the 10-9 Warriors, who outrebounded Moorhead 40-23.

Kayla Kraemer, who finished with four points, four assists and five steals hit a big jumper late to hand Brainerd a two-point edge. After Brainerd's defense forced a missed shot and got the rebound, the Spuds were forced to foul. Alex Sauer then hit both free throws for the final score with 17 seconds remaining.

Brainerd then forced one of Moorhead's 30 turnover to seal the section win.

"It's a huge win because right now there are only six teams in the section so you want to try to get one of those three of four seeds so you can get a home game in the first round," said Hendrickson. "It was a big game as far as the section is concerned. We have six of them left so we have to take care of our own business if we want to stay where we are."

Moorhead 20 25 - 45

Brainerd 20 29 - 49

MOORHEAD

Hilary Enns 12, Ashley Kassenborg 3, Maggie Gulsvig 6, Erica Henrikson 6, Alison Bruggeman 1, Miki Stephenson 17. FG 17-42 (40 percent), FT 8-10 (80 percent), Three-point baskets: 3 (Gulsvig 2, Enns).

BRAINERD

Alex Sauer 6, Kayla Kraemer 4, Emilee Branum 9, Ally Mueller 2, Tess Rahto 12, Ashley Tibbetts 2, Jalynn Lamb 4, Gretchen Kletscher 10. FG 20-58 (34 percent), FT 8-12 (66 percent), Three-point baskets: 1 (Sauer). Overall: 10-9. Next: hosts Sauk Rapids 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Rebounds: Brd 40 (Kletscher 14, Rahto 11), Moor 23; Assists: Brd 11 (Kraemer 4); Turnovers: Brd 22, Moor 30; Steals: Brd 15 (Kraemer 5, Sauer 4).