---

The Wildcat girls basketball team overcame a fast start by North Branch and defeated the Vikings 70-52 at Chisago Lakes Thursday, November 30.

North Branch, behind the scoring of sophomore Megan Scherer, built an early 5-0 lead against the Wildcats. The Vikings continued to control the game until the mid point of the first half when they enjoyed a 21-12 margin. Floor general Gab Olson distributed the ball to the North Branch shooters, with Tiffany Good and Kristen Robatcek carrying most of the scoring load.

However, The Wildcats came back strong. Senior Jess Peterson started to have an impact on in the middle on both ends of the court and Junior Megan Corradi’s slashing moves to the hoop broke down the Viking defense. A Corradi drive resulted in a 21-21 tie, the games first, at the 5:45 mark. A big three by Courtney Skoog gave the ‘Cats their first lead with five minutes remaining in the half.

Free throws by Peterson and Corradi and a three by Corradi pushed the CL lead to 29-21 a minute later. It wasn’t until the 3:42 mark that Viking Junior Ashley Johnson went 1 for 2 from the free throw line to break a 17-0 Wildcat run.

Potentially bigger than the free throw was the foul. Johnson’s trip to the line was the result of the third personal on Peterson, who went to the bench. Peterson’s replacement, Brenna Coyle, picked up her third on a Johnson shot just 30 seconds later. With the two big Wildcats on the bench, Robatcek got the ball to Johnson on the inside. The Viking junior post player went went two for two from the line and, with 1:52 left, the Vikings had closed the gap to 29-25.

The Vikings appeared to have the momentum, but baskets by Corradi and Amanda Farrell gave the Wildcats a boost. At the intermission, Chisago Lakes held a 33-26 advantage.

In the second half, the Wildcats took control early and never gave it up. Junior Kori Sells took a pass from Peterson and buried a jumper two minutes into the period to give the ‘Cats a 41-28 lead.

The Vikings responded with consecutive long jumpers to cut the margin to 41-34. But, as they had in the first half, every time the Vikings made a run, the CL shooters took charge. Kayla Schultz hit a three to move the lead back to double digits with 14:10 on the clock.

Two Scherer shots from the paint cut the Wildcat lead to seven (49-42), but two Schultz freethrows were followed by a two field goals from Sells. With eight minutes left, the Wildcats led by a dozen. By the four minute mark, the Vikings were forced to take defensive chances that resulted in a bunch of opportunities from the charity stripe for CL.

As the clock ran down, Skoog, Schultz, Peterson and Corradi took their turns from the line. The Wildcats made their last 10 points from the stripe to pull away for the 52-70 win.

Game Summary

Chisago Lakes 33 37 70

North Branch 26 26 52

Chisago Lakes

Kayla Schultz 9

Amanda Farrell 10

Jaime Tschida 3

Courtney Skoog 13

Kori Sells 4

Jess Peterson 18

Megan Corradi 13

Total 70

North Branch

Kacie Ramberg 1

Tiffany Good 11

Randi Zentner 7

Kristen Robatcek 8

Megan Scherer 12

Amy Aho 2

Gabrielle Olson 3

Ashley Johnson 8

Total 52

---