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The Viking boys’ basketball team split a pair of games in NSC action the week before the holiday break. Playing its first home game of the season, NB fell to highly rated Benilde-St. Margaret’s 60-33 Tuesday, December 19. Three nights later, the Vikings took control early in the second half as they beat St. Francis 61-45 on the Saints’ floor.

Behind the scoring of junior Jake Chambers, who scored six of the Vikings’ first ten points, NB stayed with the tall and talented Red Knights for the first part of the game. With 11:13 to go in the half that all changed. Over the next eight minutes, the Viking offense fell silent and Benilde went on a 14-0 run to open a 27-10 lead.

“We were playing Benilde tough, trailing 10-13 with eight minutes to go when we had a major brain cramp and totally forgot how to play basketball,” said Viking head coach Bill Baumann. “It helped them go on a 20-4 run to end the half.” The first half ended with Benilde in charge 33-14.

North Branch made its only run of the game in the second half. Neither team did much offensively in the first four minutes after the break. Benilde had scored the only two points and, with 14 minutes remaining, had built a 21 point lead.

In a three minute span, the Vikings went on a 10-2 run that put them within striking distance. Jeff Olson started the surge with a three at the 13:26 mark. Nick Perrin then provided the offense with a boost as he outscored BSM 7-2 in the next three minutes and, with 10:55 to go, the NB deficit was 13 (24-37) and they had the ball.

“We played consistent in the second half when we had an awakening........and cut their lead to 13,” Baumann commented. “We had momentum and forced them into a bad shot and we picked up the loose ball. But then, we lost our composure and picked up a technical foul.”

The Red Knights made both freethrows and scored on their next possession to regain control. “They were able to compose themselves and turn the momentum back into their favor,” Baumann added.

The deflated Vikings were outscored 23-11 in the last quarter of the game as Benilde won going away. The Red Knights used their size advantage to outrebound the Vikings 42-29. Perrin and Chambers grabbed eight caroms each, but no other NB player had more than three.

Benilde 33 27 60

North Branch 14 19 33

North Branch Scoring

Ryan Norman 2

Justin Novak 4

Jeff Olson 3

Dillon Kost 1

Nick Perrin 11

Jake Chambers 10

Eric Sampson 2

Total 33

North Branch at St. Francis

At St. Francis, the two NSC foes played a back-and-forth game for most of the first half. Neither team was able to pull away as the largest lead was four points and the score was tied six times. The last tie was created when a Saint field goal made it 19-19 with 2:21 to go.

The Vikings were scoreless in the last minutes as St. Francis built a 25-19 lead. A Ryan Norman freethrow 12 seconds before the intermission made the score 25-20 in favor of the Saints.

“We started out against St. Francis playing good defense, but we got into foul trouble and let them get 11 first half points from the charity stripe,” said coach Baumann. “We were still struggling from the field, but we were pleased with some of the things we were doing.”

The Vikings seized the momentum early in the second half. A Jake Chambers three and two Eric Sampson freethrows erased the Saint lead in the first minute of the new half. Another Chambers three gave the Vikings the lead for good with 16:38 remaining.

“We made a couple of halftime adjustments and we told the kids that their defense should dictate their offense. But, we were having it happen the other way around. Our offense was affecting our defense,” Baumann explained.

“We really turned the pressure up and went on a 12-0 run to start the second half and never looked back. Our defense did affect our offense. As we turned up the defensive pressure, good things happened on offense,” Baumann continued.

Things started to click for the offense as the Vikings built their lead to as much as 20. The second half offense was fueled by Justin Novak (11 second half points), Nick Perrin (8 points) and Chambers (8 points) as they cruised to the 16 point win.

Novak had an outstanding game as he led his team with 21 points and nine steals to go along with two assists and four rebounds. Chambers (11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal) and Perrin (12 points and 2 steals) provided plenty of support.

North Branch 20 41 61

St. Francis 25 20 45

North Branch Scoring

Ryan Norman 3

Jake Kovarik 2

Justin Novak 21

Jeff Olson 3

Nick Perrin 12

Jake Chambers 11

Bryce Hunter 3

Eric Sampson 6

Total 61

“It was a good win to get going into the break. We saw a lot of good things and we should be getting everyone back at full strength. We did find some kids that will be able to help us and we have become deeper because of it. Because of the inconsistency of who we have had available, we haven’t been able to get into a comfortable rotation. We should be able to settle into something after the break,” Baumann concluded.

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