Chisago Lakes hosted North Branch for a double header on Thursday night.
The boys' teams would play first, and any time they get together it is fireworks. This game fit the bill.
These two teams wasted no time in getting the action started. The Vikings grabbed the early lead but it was not long before Chisago tied the game and even took the lead themselves. The 1st half was a tug of war neither team could take full advantage of their lead. That was until late in the half. The Vikings were able to clamp down on defense and get their offense into a rhythm. They would take a 10 point lead going into halftime 42-32.
The Vikings would continue to hold onto their lead in the 2nd half and it seemed like there was no way for the Wildcats to turn momentum in their favor. North Branch had lead for over 19 minutes from the 1st half into the 2nd, but that all changed when Chisago caught fire. Joe Couwenhoven was hitting every shot he got near the basket, it didn't matter where he was shooting from, the ball was dropping through. But he wasn't the only one getting the job done, a big reason there were able to erase their 10 point deficit and take the lead was the defense. They had completely shut down the Vikings offense and were grabbing seemingly every rebound there was to have. The Wildcats held onto this lead for a good chunk of the 2nd half, but after trailing for 9 minutes the Vikings came back and took a one point lead. With only a few minutes left on the clock, the teams traded the lead almost every possession. With under a minute the Vikings had a chance to put the game away at the free throw line, but couldn't do so and this gave the Wildcats the chance they were hoping for. And they made the most of it tying the game. With under 10 seconds to, North Branch was back at the free throw line for two shots. They made the first missed the second and now the Wildcats had the last shot. They handed to the hot hand and he went for what felt like an automatic layup, but it would sail too far and roll off the rim and North Branch would win. 80-79.
North Branch will play in a tournament over Christmas break, the Wildcats won't but will host Centennial on Dec. 30th.
Scoring
Chisago Lakes:
Joe Couwenhoven 31
Blake Siefert 14
Cohen Underhill 11
Luke Lasiuta 8
Will Walker 4
William Pearson and Colton Beaver 3
Colton Betts and Jack Storlie 2
North Branch:
Ethan Thorsen 20
Jacob Knoespel 19
Chazz Johnson 11
Tyler Minke 10
Vincent DuFeck 8
Beau Hibbard 7
Andrew Karnes and Dooley Beaver 2
The girls game was right after and again there was no shortage of action!
The Wildcats jolted out to a quick 5 point lead, they come out the gates swinging. They even managed to keep the Vikings off the board for some time. But eventually North Branch did get on the board and once they did they couldn't be stopped. The Vikes went on a dominate stretch during a 26-0 run. It appeared like the game may be out of hand, but the Wildcats, although lacking in varsity experience, pushed through that adversity and continued to fight. Even though they went into halftime trailing 40-21, Annika Hall hit a buzzer beater before the break which seemed to give them a spark for the 2nd half.
In the 2nd half neither team was able to find a rhythm, but the Vikes were still able to extend their lead to 20. The Wildcats needed something to go their way to get that spark they found at the end of the 1st half. It would come from the defense, they forced North Branch to force a good amount of shots, and were simply outrebounding them. Chisago kept chipping away at their deficit and late in the half were only down by 10. At this point it felt like if they were able get one more shot to fall and cut the lead to 8, that were going to complete the comeback. North Branch had been able to draw some fouls throughout the half, this paid off as near the end of the game they forced Chisago to foul which sent them to the line. The Vikes would convert nearly all of their free throws which extended their lead back out over 10. For the Wildcats the clock was too much of a factor and even with a long three made by Hall again, it was too late. The Vikings came out on top 61-47.
The Wildcats will play again Friday night then not again till after the new year.
North Branch will not play again till Jan 4th.
Scoring
Chisago Lakes:
Annika Hall 16
Makenna Thorsen, Raeann Goehring and Madison Eagle 8
Lucy Asleson 5
Claire Beaver 2
North Branch:
Ella Kuhlman 16
Ashley Bistodeau 12
Johanna Bartkey 8
Natalie Rosales 6
Katelyn Lattimore and Maria Damiani 5
Bella Folkema 4
Hailey Diaz 3
