The wife of Brainerd head coach Troy Nelson was a member of the last Warriors team to advance to the state tournament in 1997. That was until Thursday, March 6, when the 2025 version of the Warriors knocked off the top-seeded and Class 4A’s eighth-ranked St. Michael-Albetville Knights 70-54 to advance to the Class 4A Tournament.
“This is really, really awesome,” Brainerd junior Allison Thomes said. “This is something, even at the end of last season, we knew we were going to come back bigger and better. This shows that we’re from Brainerd and this means a lot to our community.”
Brainerd outscored the Knights 47-26 in the second half to erase a 28-23 halftime deficit and improve to 25-4. Mya Tautges led all scorers with 23 points, but it was a tag-team effort as someone different stepped up to ignite the Warriors.
Brainerd’s Kylee Soens and Mya Tautges celebrate as they bring the first-place trophy to their teammates after beating St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
The first was Thomes. She scored just two points in the first half on 1-of-7 shooting. That didn’t stop her from going for nine quick points to start the second half.
“In the first half, I was getting frustrated because I knew I needed to knock down shots for my team,” Thomes said. “To start the second half, I just told myself that I have to do it and I did it. I knocked down the shots and it felt really good.
“I was confident. I knew I could get the shot off in time and I knew my teammates had the confidence in me to let me do what I needed to do.”
Brainerd’s Macy Castle, 10, and Allison Thomes, 24, go after a rebound against St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Thomes’ final point climbed Brainerd to a 1-point deficit at 39-38.
“I feel like we all picked up where we were lacking as a team,” Thomes said. “I just feel like when one of us starts hitting shots, it gets the team going. It snowballs into bigger things.”
Keeley Gondringer then came off the bench and scored seven straight Warrior points. The sophomore post didn’t miss a shot in the second half as she drained four free throws and hit a clutch 3 for a 49-40 Warrior advantage.
1/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
2/64: The Brainerd fans react as Brainerd pulls further ahead of St. Michael-Albertville at the end of the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
3/64: The Brainerd girls basketball team reacts to beating St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
4/64: Brainerd’s Macy Castle, 10, and Allison Thomes, 24, go after a rebound against St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
5/64: Brainerd’s Kylee Soens and Mya Tautges celebrate as they bring the first-place trophy to their teammates after beating St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
6/64: Brainerd’s Mya Tautges takes the ball up the court against St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
7/64: Brainerd’s Mya Tautges gets a rebound against St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
8/64: Brainerd coach Troy Nelson reacts with the bench as the Warriors pull further ahead of St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
9/64: The Brainerd girls react as St. Michael-Albertville calls a timeout near the end of the game in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
10/64: The Brainerd girls basketball team celebrates after beating St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
11/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
12/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
13/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
14/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
15/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
16/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
17/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
18/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
19/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
20/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
21/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
22/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
23/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
24/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
25/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
26/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
27/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
28/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
29/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
30/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
31/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
32/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
33/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
34/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
35/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
36/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
37/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
38/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
39/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
40/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
41/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
42/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
43/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
44/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
45/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
46/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
47/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
48/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
49/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
50/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
51/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
52/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
53/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
54/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
55/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
56/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
57/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
58/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
59/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
60/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
61/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
62/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
63/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
64/64: Brainerd girls basketball vs St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
The Brainerd girls react as St. Michael-Albertville calls a timeout near the end of the game in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
“We just told them that we’ve been shooting the ball all year long when we’ve been open,” Troy Nelson said. “At halftime, we just told them to keep shooting. If you’re open, take it because we’re probably not going to get a better one. I thought they really took that to heart and played a lights-out second half.”
Exit Gondringer and enter sophomore Addison Bjorklund. The North Dakota verbal commit scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half to keep Brainerd in front.
Brainerd coach Troy Nelson reacts with the bench as the Warriors pull further ahead of St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
“Allison got us in a rhythm, I think,” Bjorklund said. “I think, also, kicking the ball out and passing it around, I think that kind of motion gets us going. It helps us a lot.”
The Warriors shot 17-of-28 (61%) from the field, including 6-of-12 from 3-point. A Tautges 3 from the top of the key put the dagger into the Knights as it handed Brainerd a 60-50 edge and deflated any come-back hopes for STMA. This will be the senior’s third state tournament and second during her senior year.
Freshman Macy Castle finished with three points, but the 5-foot-6 point guard handled everything STMA’s defense threw at Brainerd in the second half. The Warriors turned the ball over just four times in the second frame.
The Brainerd fans react as Brainerd pulls further ahead of St. Michael-Albertville at the end of the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
“We were getting into the gaps defensively,” Bjorklund said. “In the first half, we struggled with them taking us one-on-one, but when we started helping our teammates, that helped everyone.”
Thursday was Brainerd’s 11th straight win. This will be Brainerd’s fourth state tournament appearance. Along with the 1997 team, Brainerd advanced in 1992 and 1993.
“Everyone on our team said they had a good feeling about today,” Bjorklund said. “I think that’s what also helped us. We had a positive mindset. This is amazing and I think it’s awesome to do it with the amazing teammates that I have.”
The Brainerd girls basketball team reacts to beating St. Michael-Albertville in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
The Warriors closed out the first half with a 9-4 run, with seven of those points coming from Tautges, who led all scores in the first half with 12. Brainerd shot 26% from the field, including just 2-of-14 (14%) from 3-point, but it was a Tautges 3 that cut STMA’s halftime lead to five.
A back-and-forth start gave way to the Knights’ 9-0 run led by Cail Jahnke’s back-to-back buckets and a Kaidyn Roisum 3-pointer. Jahnke led the Knights’ first-half attack with nine points. Abigail Hoselton scored eight as STMA shot 41% from the field and scored seven points off Brainerd’s six first-half turnovers.
“When we share the ball, we’re really good and I think in the second half you saw that,” Nelson said. “We were getting open shots and we were knocking them down. It was awesome. I can’t even explain this right now. I can’t believe it’s real.”
The Brainerd girls react as St. Michael-Albertville calls a timeout near the end of the game in the Section 8-4A Championship on Thurday, March 6, 2025, at Sartell High School.
