WILLMAR -- Brainerd hung with Willmar through two halves, then shaded the Cardinals in overtime to post a 60-56 win in Central Lakes girls basketball on Saturday.
Not even 100 percent free-throw accuracy down the stretch was enough to prevent Willmar from going to 1-3 in league.
Turnovers were part of Willmar's undoing. But Brainerd's Kayla Huether played a big role, too.
The junior guard chucked in 28 points to offset 20 points by Willmar senior post Lisa Nielsen.
Huether tallied 17 points in the second half and overtime. Fouled taking a three-point shot with seven seconds showing, Huether made all three to tie it 50-50. When Willmar threw the ball away after setting up a play for the winning score, the game went into overtime where Huether got five of her team's 10 points before fouling out.
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Willmar led nearly the entire way, including 24-19 at halftime. Willmar got into the double bonus with three minutes left in the last half. Kjerstin Knutson, who hit two jump shots minutes earlier, drained both free throws for a 46-44 lead and two more by Briana Goldschmidt made it a four-point lead.
Willmar made 10-of-10 -- Nielsen made all six of her shots -- at the line during crunch time, but had only one field goal over the last seven minutes, including overtime.
"We battled and played well in streaks," said coach Brad Atchison. "But the turnovers continue to hurt us. We've got to clean that up."
Knutson ended up with 11 and Kelsey Evans 10 points, while Brainerd's Megan Bates got 16.
Brainerd 60, Willmar 56
Brainerd (2-2, 2-2) 19 31 10 -- 60
Willmar (1-3, 2-3) 24 26 6 -- 56
BRAINERD - 22-51 FG (4-12 3 pt); 14-21 FT; 26 rebounds; 24 fouls ... Scoring: Steph Neugebauer 4, Kayla Huether 28, Megan Bates 16, Kelsey McDowell 2, Jessie Marolt 4, Karlye Barron 6 ... 3-point shots: Huether 3, Bates 1 ... Rebound leaders: Barron 9, Bates 12 ... Assist leader: Bates 5 ... Steal leader: Huether 4
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WILLMAR - 18-45 FG (1-10 3 pt); 19-28 FT; 36 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Megan Brown 3, Kelsey Evans 10, Brin Hanson 5, Hannah Okins 4, Briana Goldschmidt 3, Kjerstein Knutson 11, Lisa Nielsen 20 ... 3-point shots: Evans ... Rebound leaders: Evans 9, Nielsen 9 ... Assist leader: Okins 3 ... Steal leader: Nielsen 4
