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The Wildcats and Vikings played a very close game for 75 percent of the contest Tuesday, February 26. Midway through the second half, the Wildcats led the visitors by three points. However, Chisago Lakes outscored North Branch 18-6 in the last 8:50 to earn a 57-41 win at CLHS.

A big crowd was on hand to greet the teams on a cool late-winter night. And, with the exception of CL three-point specialist Kyle Hogie, the shooters were also cool in the early going. He hit a long one 65 seconds into the game and followed with another at the 15:40 mark, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.

Jake Chambers broke the ice for the Vikings when he made a reverse layup with three minutes gone. John Lindstrom hit from the arc at 14:38 and, a minute later, hit a mid-range jumper to give the Vikings their first lead, 7-6.

Following a CL timeout, the 'Cats wrested the momentum away from NB. The Wildcats' full-court pressure resulted in a five-second call as the Vikings failed to inbound the ball in time. Taylor Jones ended the Vikings' 7-0 run when he dropped a three on the next Chisago possession.

The visitors retook the lead with a pair of threes. Mike Dahl and Ryan Norman scored from outside, prompting Wildcat head coach Herb Jangor to take another timeout. At 10:48, the were up 13-9.

Henry Fitzpatrick started a six-point run for CL when he hit a jumper from the top of the key on the first possession after the timeout. Josh Figini and Eric Reed got into the box score by going two-for-two from the freethrow line in the next minute. Midway through the half, the home team led 15-13.

Kirk Dahle hit the second of two foul shots and John Lindstrom hit a three-ball to give the Vikings the lead before Quinn Collins' flew through the lane. His banker knotted the score at 17 with 7:45 left in the half.

Bryce Hunter entered the scorebook with two freethrows at 6:00, giving the Vikes another lead. Dan Ginal's three with 4:35 left put NB ahead 22-17.

Once again, the Wildcats clawed their way back with six in-a-row. Figini and Mike Corradi were both perfect from the foul stripe in the next minute. Evan Tienken finished the CL mini-run with a two-pointer. At 3:15, Chisago 23-22.

A Chambers' three at the three-minute mark to give his team the lead, again. At 1:56, Figini scored on a putback, was fouled and completed the three-point play before Manny Cruceru's two freethrows gave the 'Cats a four-point advantage. In the last minute, Chambers hit a three, cutting the Chisago halftime lead to 28-27.

Neither team scored in the first three minutes of the new half. But, as they had in the first 18 minutes, the Wildcats took advantage of opportunities from the foul stripe in the second period. Matt Jorgenson and Jones were both perfect from the line in the half's fourth minute. Their four freethrows put the home team up by five.

Lindstrom drained his third tre with 13:36 left, cutting the CL lead to 32-30. Then, the scoreboard didn't change again until Figini, following a steal, did a quarterback impression, hitting Corradi on a fly pattern. Corradi layed it in to give his team, a 34-30 lead at 11:05.

Once again, Lindstrom brought the Vikings back. His fourth three-pointer made it 34-33. Figini gave his team a six-point lead by scoring the game's next five points. He made a two from inside, a freethrow and another from the paint to give the 'Cats a 39-33 bulge with 9:00 left.

Kyle Grote's long three cut the lead in half before Jones and Fitzpatrick connected on field goals and Jones hit the Wildcats' 14th and 15th consecutive freethrows. With 7:20 left, the CL lead was 46-36.

Dahle cut the deficit to seven when he scored from outside for the Vikings with 6:34 on the clock. Shortly after that, Figini was called for his fourth personal, sending him to the bench. With the Chisago big man off the floor, the Vikings tried to go inside, unsuccessfully.

When CL took the ball to the west end of the gym, the Vikings extended their defense to stop the Wildcat outside game. But, Mike Corradi spoiled that plan when he drove into the paint and floated through the lane for a hoop at 5:50.

The Vikings came up empty on their next two possessions. Kyle Hogie hit from downtown and Corradi scored a two with no answer from North Branch. Suddenly, the margin had grown to 14. With 4:05 on the clock, the score was 53-39.

Seconds later, Viking frustrations continued when Chambers, their leading scorer, missed the front end of a one-and-one. Hogie missed the first of two from the Charity stripe, breaking the Wildcat string. When he hit the second and Fitzpatrick hit another field goal, it was all-but-over.

Chambers added two freethrows and Corradi made the game's final two points. The 16-point win pleased the Wildcat fans and left the Viking faithful wondering what happened to their offense.

GAME SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 28 29 57

North Branch 27 14 41

Wildcat Scoring

Eric Reed 2

Kyle Hogie 10

Mike Corradi 10

Evan Tienken 2

Taylor Jones 10

Josh Figini 12

Henry Fitzpatrick 5

Quinn Collins 2

Manny Cruceru 2

Matt Jorgensen 2

Total 57

Viking Scoring

Kyle Grote 3

John Lindstrom 12

Jake Chambers 11

Bryce Hunter 2

Ryan Norman 3

Dan Ginal 3

Kirk Dahle 4

Mike Dahl 3

Total 41

The Vikings complete their regular season schedule with home games against Spring Lake Park (February 29) and St. Louis Park (March 7).

The Wildcats finish on the road with games at St. Louis Park (Feb 29), Fridley (March 3) and Benilde (March 7).

All five of the games are scheduled for 7:15 starts.

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