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The North Branch Vikings boys’ basketball team headed to Duluth to play Denfeld Tuesday, February 7. The Vikes trailed by 11 at the half, fought back to lead several times, but were unable to come home with a win. The Hunters prevailed 69-67.

Denfeld started fast and built leads of 6-1 and 8-3 before the Vikings got on track. After consecutive threes by Matt Warren and Jeff Olson, North Branch led 13-11 at the 13:35 mark. Over the next three minutes, the lead changed hands six times before Denfeld took control of the game. Trailing 20-19, eight minutes into the half, Duluth outscored the Vikings 22-10 over the remainder of the half. At the intermission, Denfeld enjoyed a 41-30 advantage.

That trend continued until the 13 minute mark, when the Hunters were in the lead 49-35. In the next three minutes, baskets by Justin Novak (2), Olson, Jake Chambers and Warren closed the gap to 49-46.

Duluth stormed back to take nine point leads at the 7:00 (55-46) and 4:00 (61-52) minute marks. Then, Warren hit a three, followed by consecutive twos and a three by David Bennett, giving the Vikings a 62-61 lead with 1:16 left.

As the clock ticked away, the lead changed hands three more times and Nate Perrin tied it at 67 with a charity toss at 0:23. Two Hunter freethrows, with 15 seconds to go ended the scoring and the Vikings were left to ponder a 69-67 loss on the bus trip home.

Chambers led his team in scoring and assists (7). Warren grabbed seven rebounds and Novak had three steals and four assists.

Scoring Summary

North Branch 30 37 67

Duluth Denfeld 41 28 69

Travis Peterson ................... 2

Justin Novak ................... 6

Jeff Olson ................... 7

Matt Warren ................... 15

Nick Perrin ................... 3

Jake Chambers ................... 20

David Bennett ................... 14

Total 67

North Branch at Irondale

Thursday, February 9 the Vikings traveled to Irondale for their seventh road game of its last nine. The result was another close game and another loss (53-49).

Like most of the Vikings recent games, this one was close throughout. The game featured eight lead changes and an equal number of ties.

The Knights broke out to a 4-1 lead. Jake Chambers created the first tie with a three at the 14:48 mark. Two minutes later, the Vikings took their first lead (8-7) on the strength of a Justin Novak basket. With 11:00 remaining, David Bennett’s three gave North Branch a 12-9 lead.

Irondale came back with a 6-0 run to retake the lead. This time Nick Perrin tied the score at 15 halfway through the first period. The Knights responded and took the lead by four. Novak’s bucket, at the 3:22 mark, created tie number four (26-26).

From that point, the Knights climbed back into the lead, before North Branch closed the half with a 6-0 run that gave the Vikings a 33-30 edge at intermission.

Irondale scored the first six points of the second half to retake the lead. Travis Peterson’s freethrow with 12:10 remaining tied the score for the fifth time. Two minutes later, Matt Warren tied it (number six) at 40 with a shot from behind the arc. The game’s seventh tie (43-43) appeared as Perrin’s three ripped the cords at 8:36.

With six minutes remaining, Jake Chambers scored on a pass from Novak, giving the Vikes’ their largest lead (47-43). But, the offense stalled at that point and the Vikings could manage only two freethrows for the remainder of the game. The second of those, by Peterson, knotted the score, for the eighth time, at 49 with 1:51 to go.

The Knights scored the last four points of the game and the Vikings went home with a disappointing loss.

Novak led the team with three assists and two steals. He also grabbed four rebounds. Warren collected eight rebounds to lead the Vikings, while John Lindstrom and Chambers had five each.

Scoring Summary

North Branch 33 16 49

Irondale 30 23 53

Travis Peterson ................... 4

Justin Novak ................... 11

Jeff Olson ................... 2

Matt Warren ................... 5

Nick Perrin ................... 6

Jake Chambers ................... 16

David Bennett ................... 5

Total 49

A month ago, the Vikings were 6-5 and 3-0 in the conference and playing well. Since that time, they’ve dropped eight in a row and have fallen to 6-13 (3-7 in the conference).

“We have been so close in every game this year.  It is frustrating because we are playing to the level our competition and just playing well enough to lose.  We have to find a way to win,” said North Branch head coach Bill Baumann. 

According to the coach, his team is playing “not to lose” instead of playing for the win.

“In this losing streak we have lost these games by an average of four points. Which means if we take every possession for what it is worth we would have an opportunity to win if we execute. 

“The kids haven't quit in the games and we are waiting to break out. All we need is to put a good solid effort with a few breaks......We are all trying to do too much.  We just have to relax and play the game the way we are capable.  We have to let the game come to us and not try to force the issue,” Baumann continued. 

“We had chances to win in both games last week but it was missed freethrows or we had a turnover at a critical time.

“It will be nice to get back home for some game.  The schedule wasn't kind to us as we played seven  of the last nine on the road with the two stops at home basically just a chance to change clothes,” the coach concluded.

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