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The North Branch boys’ basketball team completed its conferernce season on a high note by beating Totino Grace 69-63 at home Friday, March 3.

The game was close throughout and was a matchup between the size of the Eagles and the quickness of the Vikings. In the first half, both teams took turns ganing momentum and trying to maintain it. At the break, North Branch held a 36-33 advantage.

In the second half, with leading scorer Jake Chambers on the bench in foul trouble, his teammates took up the slack. Four Vikings ended the game in double figures and one scored nine.

With about six minutes left, Chambers fouled out and Nick Perrin took contol of the offensive end. He scored and distributed the ball to keep the Eagle defense guessing. John Lindstrom, who’s playing with more confidence every game, Jeff Olson and Travis Peterson followed Perrin’s lead and kept the ball moving.

But, as is often the case in close games, the defense determined the outcome of the game. Two plays by Justin Novak stood out for the Vikings. With about two minutes left, North Branch missed a long shot. The long rebound went to a Totino player who turned and dribbled toward, what seemed to be, an uncontested layup. Meanwhile, Novak used his wide receiver speed to race past the Eagles and set up to take the charge at the defensive end.

A minute later, the Vikings missed a shot that headed for two tall Totino rebounders. Just as one of them was about to control the ball, Novak skyed and tipped the ball. The Vikings eventually regained possession and the Eagles were forced to foul to try to get the ball back.

That gave the Vikings the opportunity to secure the victory and end their season on a winning note. The win gave the Vikings two wins in a row for the first time in two months and, having won three of their last four, some momentum going into the playoffs.

North Branch hosts Chisago Lakes in the first round of the Section 6AAA Tournament tonight (March 9) at 7 pm.

Scoring Summary

North Branch 36 33 69

Totino Grace 33 30 63

Travis Peterson ................... 6

Justin Novak ................... 14

Jeff Olson ................... 9

Nick Perrin ................... 13

Jake Chambers ................... 11

John Lindstrom ................... 16

Total 66

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