By MIKE BIALKA
Sports Editor

Few probably give the Brainerd Warriors a shot.

When Brainerd plays St. Michael-Albertville for the Section 4-A championship Friday night the Knights will be big favorites.

St. Michael-Albertville won the Class 3A state title last year before being bumped up to Class 4A this school year.

In addition, the Knights beat Brainerd 69-33 Jan. 2 to start a 15-game win streak. They are the No. 1 seed in the section and carry a 21-6 mark into the final after nipping fourth-seeded St. Cloud Tech 45-44 in the semifinals.

All of the above should enable Brainerd (17-10) to play under less duress, play hard and try to pull off a stunning upset.

"Certainly, we don't have a ton of pressure on us, the pressure is a little more with them because they're the No. 1 seed, because of their record, and how they manhandled us at their place," Warriors coach Carl Hendrickson said. "We'll just go out, have fun and when it's all over we'll look up at the clock at the end of 36 minutes and see where we are."

The third-seeded Warriors caught fire at prime time and are playing their best basketball in the postseason. They have won eight of their last nine, the last five straight.

In the section, Brainerd edged No. 6 Moorhead 54-52 and bumped off No. 2 Buffalo 60-57 on the Bison's home court.

"Right now the girls are flying high," Hendrickson said. "We've won two thrillers coming down the stretch. To win with seconds on the clock, two games in a row, our excitement and confidence is high. Hopefully, that will carry over to the final game.

"We've come along as a team nicely. Maybe I was a little bit too hard on them early in the season, but I had expectations for this group. I think we've exceeded what most people thought was going to come from this season. As we moved through the season we saw things come together.

"It's been a fun ride the last 8-9 games to see the kids play together, which they weren't doing as well early in the season."

Brainerd starts 5-10 Alex Sauer (11.4 points a game) 6-0 Tess Rahto (11.0), 5-10 Emilee Branum (10.1), 6-0 Gretchen Kletscher (8.6) and 5-6 point guard Kayla Kraemer (7.8).

Rahto averages 9.6 rebounds and Kletscher 8.1. Kraemer has 91 assists. First players off the bench have been Ashley Tibbetts, Jalynn Lamb, Carlie Sweet and Jackie Maybon.

The Knights start 5-6 Jessie VanWyhe and Christine Thorn, 5-9 Carly Rothstein, 5-11 Holly Kotila and 5-10 Jina Schoenborn. First off the bench are 5-7 Bailey Thompson, 5-4 Carlyn Anderson, 6-0 Rachel Valley and 5-8 Natalie VanWyhe. Rothstein started on the state championship team; Thorn, Kotila and Schoenborn played.

Rothstein is the only Knight averaging in double figures (15 points). She and Kotila each average six rebounds.

Knights coach Kent Hamre said Brainerd is much improved from the first time the teams played.

"I see this game a lot differently than the first time," he said. "The first time they were missing Gretchen Kletscher. I'm sure it was tough to play Jan. 2, right after Christmas break. I'm guessing they didn't practice New Year's Day, then they have to get on a bus at 7 or 8 the next morning to get here for the junior varsity game.

"When I've watched tape of them it's like two different teams with two different types of energy. They weren't clicking (Jan. 2). Last Saturday you could tell they're getting along, having fun, and things are going their way."

Friday's winner plays in the 4A state tournament Wednesday at the Target Center.

"We just have to make sure we take care of the ball, play with some poise, not get too excited, and I think we'll be fine," Hendrickson said. "I think it's going to be a great game."

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.