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North Branch 45, Chisago Lakes 42
When Craig Walker and Jerome Huselid pit their teams against each other in girls basketball, it’s usually a knock-down, drag-out defensive battle. They both favor that side of the ball and they both enjoy low scoring games.

The latest meeting between the rivals was a perfect match up for defense enthusiasts. The teams were dead even at the half after North Branch had grabbed a small early lead. In the beginning of the second half, Chisago Lakes started to pull away a bit. The Wildcats built a seven point lead as Carmen Backes was hitting buckets and the North Branch offense was just missing  opportunities.

However, Courtney Selbitschka, who has been a major Vikings leader on and off the court this season, converted a huge three point play to cut the deficit almost in half. She then was able to find a few open teammates to really trim the lead back to within striking distance.

Backes hit a big shot on a drive, and it put the ‘Cats up five with just under three minutes to play. When they got the ball back, Walker was hoping the girls would hold onto the ball and ice the win with free throws.

However, he said, they instead took two questionable shots on back-to-back possessions that gave North Branch chances to get back in the game.
After the Vikings made good on their possessions, they were down by one point.

North Branch’s Morgen Coleman then came up with a big steal on one Chisago Lakes possesion and laid the ball in for a one point lead for the Lady Vikes.

North Branch sent a trap at the Wildcats on the ensuing possession and committed a costly foul on Heather Elferling. Elferling knocked down both of her free throws to put the ‘Cats up by one.

That set the stage for little-used freshman Savannah Linkert. She’s been pressed into duty more recently because of injuries, but on the season, she had averaged 2.7 points per game.

Linkert got a kick out pass beyond the three point line with less than 10 seconds to go, and immediately put the ball in the air, knocking down the three pointer, and giving North Branch a two-point lead.

On Chisago Lakes’ next possession, they put the ball in Backes’ hand. The freshman had 20 points up to that point, and Walker wanted to put the ball in her hands to either drive for a tie or dish out for a win.

She chose the latter, dishing a pass out to Dani Berg after getting double teamed. Berg got a good look, but the shot fell just short. The ‘Cats got called for an intentional foul on the rebound, giving the Vikes free throws on the other end.

They hit one of the charity baskets and CL had one last miracle heave at the tie, but the shot was off and the Vikings earned the three point win, 45-42.

“Our defense continues to play well and has been the catalyst in our success as of late,” Huselid said. “I am also so proud of how many different girls step up each night and contribute in so many ways.”

“We tried to end the game the way we've ended our last two and it didn't go our way,” Walker said. “We've iced the games lately by holding on to the ball and making our free throws. Even after we gave up the lead, Heather made two free throws to tie it up at 42 and we were a stop away from a chance to win in regulation.”

Walker gave credit to Huselid, though, after the hard-fought game. “Coach Huselid got his kids in the right spots late against our defense and they made the shots.”

For North Branch, Selbitschka led the charge with 16 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists in one of her best all around games to date. Coleman had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Linkert had six points -- three of them being at the most important time of the game -- and three rebounds.

On the losing side, the Wildcats got 20 points from Backes and 12 points and eight rebounds from Sarah Greene.

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