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Everything pointed to an easy win for the Vikings against the Wildcats.

The North Branch girls’ basketball team had everything going its way. The team had an 11-3 record and it was playing in the friendly confines of its own gym. Even when the Vikings had lost, good things had happened. For example, when they suffered a recent one-point, last second defeat to St. Francis, they came back from 20 points down to take the lead near the end of the contest.

The Chisago Lakes Wildcats, on the other hand, had a 4-9 record and had already lost two games for the week, including a blowout loss to St.Francis on its own court. And, they had to play in the hostile environs of the North Branch gym.

Everything pointed to an easy win for the Vikings.

However, area fans know that things don’t always go as scripted when the Wildcats and Vikings take the floor.

Thursday, January 12 the teams took the floor and, after 36 minutes of action, the Vikings had a 65-59 victory. However, it was anything but easy.

Chisago Lakes broke out to an early lead. Courtney Skoog and Megan Corradi controlled the perimeter and broke down the Viking defense by slashing through the lane and Jess Peterson dominated the inside. With 6:32 to go in the half, the Wildcats held an 18-14 and seemed to be in command.

In the next 31 seconds, the Vikings forced three Chisago turnovers and scored seven unanswered points to take a lead (21-18) that they would not relinquish. During that span, Viking point guard Gab Olson had two steals, an assist and five points.

North Branch briefly opened a nine point lead, but the Wildcats fought back and the first half ended North Branch 30, Chisago 25.

The second half started with a Peterson led Wildcat rally. At 16:32 the ‘Cats pulled to within one (32-31) when she scored over Olson. Tiffany Good, Olson, Marlayna Graff and Kristin Robatcek scored for the Vikes over the next five minutes as they went on a 17-5 run that put the score at 49-36 with 11:00 to go.

Chisago responded as Alise Bowie and Corradi scored and Skoog dropped a three to make it 49-43 with 9:00 on the clock. Again, the Vikings came back and built their lead to 12 (59-47) when Jill Vanden Heuvel dished to Graff with four minutes left.

Caitlin Cunningham canned a three from the corner to stop the North Branch surge at 3:05. In the last few minutes, the Wildcats played aggressive defense and ended up putting the Vikings on the charity stripe. North Branch missed five of six free throws and the chance to bury Chisago in the next two minutes.

Skoog’s three with 35 seconds on the clock reduced the Viking lead to 62-57. Jill Vanden Heuvel put the game on ice with two free throws with 16 clicks left and the Vikings finished with a hard fought 65-59 win.

Scoring Summary

North Branch 30 35 65

Chisago Lakes 25 34 59

North Branch

Kacie Ramberg ...................... 2

Tiffany Good.......................... 8

Randi Zentner......................... 1

Kristen Robatcek.................... 7

Jill VandenHeuvel.................. 8

Lacee Scherer......................... 1

Marlayna Graff....................... 10

Gabrielle Olson...................... 28

Total.......................... 65

Chisago Lakes

Jess Peterson ..........................20

Kori Sells ............................... 2

Courtney Skoog .....................15

Megan Corradi .......................10

Alise Bowie ............................ 5

Caitlin Cunningham ............... 5

Amanda Farrell ...................... 2

Total.......................... 59

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