Senior post Kobe Ahonen scored 15 points and snagged 12 rebounds to help the Brainerd Warriors to a 59-53 Section 8-4A victory over the Rogers Royals Saturday afternoon at Brainerd High School.
He finished 7 of 11 from the floor and contributed two blocks and two steals.
It was Ahonen's second double-double in the season's first two games.
Junior guard Michael Russell led Brainerd with 20 points. He drained 3 of 5 threes, was 7-for-11 overall from the field and swished 3 of 4 free throws. Russell added two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
Chris Pederson added nine points - making four of five shots - three rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
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Steffan Musoke and Allen Wilson each scored 13 points for the Royals who beat Brainerd in the regular season and in the 8-4A quarterfinals last season.
Rogers 26 27 - 53
Brainerd 28 31 - 59
ROGERS
Steffan Musoke 13, Allen Wilson 13, Matt Carik 7, Mitch Spilles 8, Drew Sagehorn 2, Will Alexander 5, Collin Franz 5. FG 17, FT 10-19 (53 percent). 3-pointers-3.
BRAINERD
Michael Russell 20, Luke West 4, Jaden Miller 3, Chris Pederson 9, Michael Bieganek 8, Kobe Ahonen 15. FG 20-64 (31 percent), FT 10-19 (53 percent). 3-point 3-28 (11 percent). Overall: 2-0. Next: at St. Cloud Apollo 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
