In a game that featured bursts of scoring, the Brainerd Warriors finished one run short.
Trailing 54-42 with a little more than two minutes left, Brainerd went on a 7-point spree to whittle its deficit to 54-49 with 16.3 seconds left. Two free throws by Ellie Colbeck less than two seconds later sealed the Otters' 56-49 victory in a Central Lakes Conference game Thursday, Dec. 13, at Brainerd High School.
The game featured seven runs ranging from five to 12 points.
"The big killer was we had that stretch in the first half where we had like four turnovers in a row." Warriors coach Troy Nelson said. "That gave them like a 6-0 run. We battled back from that point on.
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"Basketball is a game of runs. Unfortunately, they made the last one."
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Fergus Falls 56, Warriors 49
- The key: The Otters had a 12-point run in the first half
- Conference: Brd 1-3, FF 3-0
- Overall: Brd 2-4, FF 5-1
- Next: Buffalo at Brainerd 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.
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Colbeck, a freshman guard, led all players with 20 points Another freshman, Tori Ratz, added 17 points and senior Lily Pearson contributed 13 as the Otters attained their fifth straight win.
"I would not have guessed five in a row, never in a million years," Otters coach Brad Strand said. "I think everywhere in our conference is a tough place to play. Long trips, you don't always get the fan support or student body and the home team usually does.
"We shoot it pretty well in this gym. These kids just spend time in the gym. They're gym rats. We don't always shoot it well, but we shot it pretty well tonight."
The Otters finished 18 of 41 (44 percent) from the field, including 7 of 17 from 3-point. Brainerd was 15-for-39 (38 percent) and 6 of 18 from behind the arc.
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Trailing 41-40 with 7:30 remaining, Brainerd had two possessions to tie or go ahead, but didn't capitalize. The Warriors were outrebounded just 23-22 with Olivia Tautges grabbing seven.
"I think we had good shots at the bucket, but they didn't go in," Nelson said. "We had kind of a down shooting night a little bit. We've been shooting a little bit higher percentage wise. We just missed some shots.
"It was our first home game so we were a little bit anxious maybe. I'm so proud of how hard we played. (Fergus Falls) is a really good basketball team.
"We came out and played great defense. We played together. Once we settled down offensively, we moved the ball better."
Tautges, another freshman, led the Warriors with 15 points. Sophomore Lilly Horn came off the bench to score 10.
Leading by one in the second half, the Otters went on a 10-point burst to seize a 51-40 edge. Brainerd outscored them 9-5 the rest of the way, but it was too late.
"Most of these kids on the floor have been tested throughout the year," Strand said, "and we had a test tonight against a really good Warrior team.
"To win a close game is good for us. That 1-3-1 (zone) that coach Nelson has is tough. They've got some long athletes. It just caused us fits. We practiced for it. We knew it was coming, but we still had trouble with it."
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In the first, Colbeck scored 10 and the Otters led 29-20 at the intermission. Tautges matched Colbeck with 10 for the Warriors.
The first half was a game of back and forth bursts. Fergus put together the most impressive run scoring 12 straight for a 24-14 edge. The Otters then got outscored 6-5 until the half.
Brainerd scored the game's first six points, the Otters scored the next 10. Trailing 12-9 the Warriors scored five straight to surge ahead 14-12.
The Warriors have little time to regroup. They host Buffalo Friday, Dec. 14.
"We tell kids our No 1 thing, consistent effort, is what we're looking for," Nelson said. "I thought we showed that the whole game. It's a short night. We'll get back and play again (Friday)."
Fergus Falls 29 27-56
Brainerd 20 29-49
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FERGUS FALLS
Sabrina Fronning 4, Ellie Colbeck 20, Tori Ratz 17, Lily Pearson 13, Gretchen Davis 2. FG 18-41 (44 percent), FT 10-13 (77 percent). 3-point: 7-17 (41 percent). Turnovers: 15.
BRAINERD
Courtney Russell 9, Myah Nelson 7, Ally Brezinski 2, Olivia Tautges 15, Lilly Horn 10, Tae Evanson 6. FG 15-40 (38 percent), FT 11-13 (85 percent). 3-point: 6-18 (33 percent). Turnovers: 15.
