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Outside of the North Branch girls basketball team (see story, page 13) the area hoops teams are still looking for their first wins of the year, combining for an 0-16 record.

Chisago Lakes Girls

The Lady ‘Cats had a rough week, starting with a 56 point loss to Becker on Monday, December 9. Claire Beaver led Chisago Lakes with nine points and three rebounds in the game. Annika Hall chipped in six points and three boards.

They followed that game up with their closest of the week, but it was still a 20 point loss to section foe Hermantown on Tuesday December 10. Hall netted 17 points along with three steals on the night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hawks.

Kayla Larsen added eight points and 12 boards and Makenna Thorsen had seven points in the losing effort.

The Wildcats then had their lowest offensive output of the year so far on Friday, December 13 when they fell to the Monticello Magic 72-23.

CL was led by Thorsen and Beaver’s seven points each. Larsen had five points and four rebounds for the ‘Cats.

Chisago Lakes will have two games before their Christmas break, hosting North Branch on Thursday, December 19 and traveling to St. Croix Prep on Friday, December 20. After the break, they’ll be in the meat of their Mississippi 8 Conference schedule, with six straight conference games in January.

Chisago Lakes Boys

The Wildcat boys played two tough games, and neither one went the way they wanted as CL fell to 0-5 on the year with the two losses.

The first loss was a 92-58 drubbing at the hands of Mahtomed on Tuesday, December 10i. The Zephyrs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the win. Colton Betts and Cohen Underhill were the only ‘Cats in double figures. Betts had 16 and Underhill had 11 to go with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Blake Siefert, Colton Beaver and Luke Lasiuta all added eight points for CL in the losing effort.

Things only got worse for Chisago Lakes when they played their first Mississippi 8 Conference game against Monticello on Friday, December 13.

The Magic hammered the Wildcats 107-40. It was 63-24 at halftime and even once Monticello brought some back ups in, Chisago Lakes struggled to score, netting only 16 points in the second half as Monti added 44 more.

Joe Couwenhoven led CL with 11 points. Siefert had eight points and seven rebounds.

CL took on interstate rival Osceola earlier this week before hosting North Branch Thursday, December 19. They’ll squeeze in one more match up before Christmas, traveling to Hermantown on Saturday, December 21.

North Branch Boys

The Vikings only had one game last week, dropping a 71-58 match up against Mississippi 8 Conference opponent Big Lake. The Hornets were 0-2 heading into the match up and with the loss, North Branch fell to 0-3.

NB took on Princeton earlier this week and will host Zimmerman Thursday, December 19 before taking a week off for winter break. They are in a holiday tournament this year, as the Vikes will head to Perham for Hoops at the Hive, where they’ll play Sauk Centre in the opening round Friday, December 27.

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