{"id":2285377,"date":"2026-02-17T09:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2285377"},"modified":"2026-02-17T09:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:14:18","slug":"girls-basketball-warriors-hold-off-royals-to-remain-perfect-at-home-brainerd-dispatch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/girls-basketball-warriors-hold-off-royals-to-remain-perfect-at-home-brainerd-dispatch\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls Basketball: Warriors hold off Royals to remain perfect at home – Brainerd Dispatch"},"content":{"rendered":"

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BRAINERD \u2014 It wasn\u2019t pretty, but the Brainerd Warriors closed out their home schedule with a win Monday, Feb. 16.<\/p>\n

Brainerd led by 15 at halftime and shot 55.2% from the free throw line in a 68-65 win over the Rogers Royals.<\/p>\n

Addison Bjorklund finished with 29 points to pace the Warriors offense. Allison Thomes scored 15 points, hitting three-of-four free throws in the last minute. Macy Castle tallied 12 points to help the Warriors win their 18th game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe competed our butts off tonight,\u201d Warriors\u2019 head coach Troy Nelson said. \u201cWe played hard and played much better in the first half than the second half. We had the mental toughness to pull it out in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rogers\u2019 Madison Waldo, an eighth grader, hit seven 3-pointers to her 29 points. Kinnley Colligan added 19 points and reached 1,000 points in her career on a free throw in the second half. The Warriors defense held the Royals offense to 36.1% shooting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have some kids, who can hit shots and they were hitting them from the volleyball line,\u201d Nelson said. \u201c(Waldo) went on fire for them today, but we didn\u2019t give her anything on the last couple possessions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Brainerd’s Bethany Black Lance drives the basket on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, playing against Rogers.<\/figcaption>

Tim Speier \/ Brainerd Dispatch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

The Warriors ended the first half hitting four 3-pointers to take a 43-28 lead. Brainerd hit 6-of-10 from downtown in the first half. In the second half, the Warriors went 0-of-8 from distance.<\/p>\n

Cora Clough hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Bjorklund hit two 3-pointers as part of her 18 first-half points.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t think they had much of an inside presence,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cPart of the gameplan was to get inside touches. Bjorklund did a good job of finishing down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rogers cut Brainerd\u2019s halftime lead all the way down to one with 22 seconds left. Despite free throw trouble throughout the game, the Warriors hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last minute to seal the win. Castle finished 6-of-8 from the line and Thomes hit 3-of-5. The Warriors tallied 16-of-29 from the free throw line.<\/p>\n

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Brainerd’s Addison Bjorklund shoots the ball on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, playing against Rogers.<\/figcaption>

Tim Speier \/ Brainerd Dispatch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

\u201cWe were not shooting free throws great today, but when we had to make them, we were able to knock them in,\u201d Nelson said.<\/p>\n

The Royals opened the second half on an 11-2 run. Waldo caught fire as four of her seven 3-pointers came in the second half.<\/p>\n

Bjorklund hit a layup to make it 63-54 Warriors, but the Royals went on a quick 7-0 run to cut the lead to two with under two minutes left.<\/p>\n

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Brainerd’s Addison Bjorklund shoots the ball on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, playing against Rogers.<\/figcaption>

Tim Speier \/ Brainerd Dispatch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we were getting the same looks we were in the first half,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cThey doubled teamed the post a little differently and made it more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the win, Brainerd finishes the regular season 12-0 at home. The Warriors can share the Central Lakes Conference title with Alexandria with wins in their last two games. Brainerd travels to Willmar Tuesday, Feb. 17, and ends the season at Sauk Rapids Friday, Feb. 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to go win a conference championship and that\u2019s our mindset,\u201d Nelson said.<\/p>\n

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Kinnley Colligan 19, Harper Colligan 6, Alexa Juntunen 6, Paige Fenstra 7, Madison Waldo 29. FG 22-61 (36.1%), FT 13-21 (61.9%), 3-point 8-26 (30.8%).<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Macy Castle 12, Cora Clough 7, Addison Bjorklund 29, Allison Thomes 15, Bethany Black Lance 4, Keeley Gondringer 1. FG 23-54 (42.6%), FT 16-29 (55.2%), 3-point 6-18 (33.3%). Overall: 18-6. Next: at Willmar 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17.<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n