The Brainerd Warrior boys basketball team made a furious comeback late against the Moorhead Spuds but fell just short 53-52 in Section 8 4A Championship Game. With the Warrior student section dressed in St Patrick’s Day green, the parents and fans in Warrior blue the game came down to the final seconds. The Warriors trailed 42-33 with 6:00 left when the Warriors began to chip away. 3’s from Johnny Pecarich, Eli Hoelz and Mitchell Degan kept things close, then closer. Trailing 52-50 Pecarich hit a runner to tie the game at 52 with :23 remaining. The Spuds Mehki Elmore would get fouled and make one of two with :09 left, the Warriors took the ball across half court and called timeout. The Spuds followed with another timeout before the inbound play was set. Nick Evanson passed to Mitchell Degan who fired up a three just missing as Hoelz crashed the boards for the put back that fell just short at the buzzer.

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Pecarich led the way with 16 points, Evanson added 12, Degan finished with 11, Hoelz had 7 and Cam Engholm had 6. Coach Charlie Schoeck’s Warriors finished the season at 18-11. Moorhead 17-13 will play in the 4A State Quarterfinals on Tuesday March 22.