Warriors try to whip up comeback against Spuds
Trailing 74-60 with 3:35 remaining, the Brainerd Warriors did the unthinkable - almost.
Following a fast-break layup by the Moorhead Spuds' Ryan Sederquist, the Brainerd Warriors outscored the Spuds 15-5. Kevin Peterson came away with a mishandled ball, pulled up for a three, attempting to cut the Spuds lead to just one.
Brainerd Warriors Aaron Pavek scrambled for the ball Monday night against the Moorhead Spuds at Brainerd. The Spuds topped the Warriors 82-75. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
With the crowd prepared to erupt with excitement, Peterson's shot missed off the back of the rim. The Spuds gathered the loose ball and were able to close out the game with three free throws, downing the Warriors 82-75 during the Warriors' final Central Lakes Conference home appearance of the season.
Peterson led the Warriors with 15 points off the bench, followed by Mitch Bzdok with 13 as the Warriors' bench combined for 45 points on the night.
"I guess maybe that's my job as a coach to get these guys to compete hard and tonight we had to go to the bench to find guys willing to compete and I was proud of the guys that stepped up when we needed it," Warrior's coach Wade Haapajoki said. "I thought our bench played extremely well tonight. That helped give us a chance and we rode it out."
"Bring our gloves, strap our shoes up. Coach Jordan has got a fiery team and we have to match their intensity and bring something of our own. There's no rocket science to this high school basketball and competing against Little Falls. It's a heck of a rivalry. We'll bring it down there. It will be a heavyweight battle."
Wade Haapajoki, BHS coach
Nick Belgum also provided a spark off the bench, provided six of his 10 points in the second half, including four in the final two minutes.
Belgum and the Warriors led the Spuds 11-10 with five minutes gone in the first half before suffering their first scoring drought. The Spuds rolled off a 13-4 run and never surrendered the lead.
Despite trailing by 11 in the first half, and as many as 16 late in the second half, the Warriors never caved. Peterson, Bzdok and Belgium sparked a 13-5 run midway through the second half before the late 15-5 push, cutting the Warriors' deficit to four on each occasion.
"Overall, we fought until the end and different guys stepped up," Wade Haapajoki said. "It's just disappointing to have the seniors finish their last game at home this way, but that's high school sports."
The Warriors shot 40 percent from the field, but attempted just eight free throws, converting five. Meanwhile, the Spuds converted over 51 percent from the field, and made four more (12) free throws than the Warriors' attempted.
After failing to make any 3's in their 60-41 loss to the Warriors on February 6, the Spuds lit up the Warriors, sinking 12 off 21 attempts from beyond the arc, including four straight highlighting a 17-7 run before the Warriors made their late-game run.
"We play a lot of different zone defenses, and when the other team is shooting the lights out you have to adjust," Haapajoki said. "We kept adjusting and they kept answering the bell."
In their final home appearance for the Warriors were Joel Martin, who finished with 13 points, Kyle Crocker, Aaron Pavek, Chris Rud, Thomas Fairbanks and Garth Askegaard.
The Warriors will travel to Little Falls to face the Flyers in the regular season finale.
"Compete," Haapajoki said regarding the regular season finale versus the Little Falls Flyers on Friday. "Bring our gloves, strap our shoes up. Coach Jordan has got a fiery team and we have to match their intensity and bring something of our own. There's no rocket science to this high school basketball and competing against Little Falls. It's a heck of a rivalry. We'll bring it down there. It will be a heavyweight battle."
Moorhead 36 46 - 82
Brainerd 26 49 - 75
MOORHEAD
Matt Fernholz 4, Sam Stetz 20, Aaron Lien 4, Ryan Sederquist 24, Wes Anderson 20, Michael White 8, Kristian Lien 2, Camden Bosche 2. FG 30-59 (51 percent). FT 12-17 (71 percent). Three-point baskets: 12 (Stetz 3, Sedquist 5, Anderson 4 ).
Brainerd
Kevin Peterson 15, Mitch Bzdok 13, Joel Martin 13, Kyle Crocker 2, Aaron Pavek 6, Chris Rud 5, Thomas Fairbanks 8, Nick Belgum 10, Garth Askegaard 3. FG 32-80 (40 percent). FT 5-8 (63 percent). Three-point baskets: 8 (Peterson 3, Bzdok 2, Martin 2, Rud).