BRAINERD 54, ALEXANDRIA 45
Brainerd handed #2AAA Alexandria their second straight road loss
this week and picked up a revenge win with a 54-45 Central Lakes Conference victory. In the Warriors first game of the year at Alex they fell 54-38. The margin turnaround was 25 points. Alex suffered from an abysmal start to the game. The Cardinals were held scoreless for the first six minutes and nine seconds. Mia McGrane finally broke the ice with a layup. Brainerd was just slightly better at that point holding a 4-0 lead. It looked like the Cards, with their pressure defense, would break through. Alex momentarily took a 5-4 lead after a 3 by Kaye Paschka. It was to be their only 3 of the night. Meanwhile Brainerd caught fire going on a 13-4 run over the next six possessions (17-9). The Cardinals were unable to generate much of anything on offense with turnovers against the 2/3 zone or just missing in timing their passes. The result was a 10 point Brainerd half time lead.
Alex came out and scored on their first two possessions. A steal looked like the momentum changer, but the layup was off. The Cards kept chipping away. A McGrane lay up gave Alex their first lead in the second half 34-32. Their last lead came with 6:30 left on a shot from the left block from Emily Jones. Brainerd then scored the next five points with Courtney Russell finding an offensive rebound and scoring the put back to start it off. Russell put Brainerd up 49-41 with a pair of free throws with 51.4 ticks left. It appeared that Alex was about to rise up scoring the next four points thanks to increased heat defensively and picking up fouls. With 32 seconds left McGrane scored two free throws to make it 49-45. The Warrior faithful held their collective breath. But in the last three Brainerd possessions they scored either at the line or after they broke the press preserving the
It is odd comparing the stats. Alex shot better from the line and from 2s plus had a massive 18 rebound advantage including 15 more offensive boards. The Warriors made up for it with better 3 shooting and four less turnovers. Brainerd showcased their balance with five players scoring between 9 and 12 points. Freshman Olivia Tautges led the way for Brainerd with 12 points. Alex could only claim three in the same scoring window.
This was the second straight year Brainerd beat the Cards at home. Last year it was 58-48.
Brainerd is now 7-9. Alex is 12-2.
I have nine more AAAA teams left to see.
| BRAINERD | ALEXANDRIA | |
| POINTS | 54 | 45 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 24/5 | 42/20 |
| TURNOVERS | 24 | 28 |
| FTA/% | 20/70.00 | 14/71.42 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 39.298/54.54 | 40.00/6.66 |
| PP100 | 78.3 | 63.4 |
| TOP SCORER | Olivia Tautges 12 | Two with 12 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Brainerd senior point guard Courtney Russell with 11 points, 91.7 pp100 and 21 Score in the 31 Club