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Three wins in a row have propelled the North Branch girls basketball team to a 5-3 record and dreams of a big season.

North Branch 80, Sauk Rapids-Rice 29

The Vikings had a showcase game against the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm on Tuesday, December 10. They blew the hatches off the Storm in the first half, leading by 32 points, and then only allowed SRR to score six second half points en route to the 51 points blowout.

Everyone got in on the action, but Ella Kuhlman had her best game of the year so far, scoring 22 points, grabbing eight boards to go with six assists and five steals. Jo Bartkey had 13 points and six rebounds and Maria Damiani and Bella Folkema each had nine points and four assists.

The team totals for the lopsided affair were impressive, with the Vikings pulling down 42 rebounds, dishing out 28 assists and nabbing 20 steals. Five girls had multiple steals on the night and Hailey Diaz joined Kuhlman in swiping at least five Storm passes.

North Branch 53, Little Falls 46

The Vikings had a much closer game against the Little Falls Flyers on Thursday, December 12, but a second half surge saw them come out on top in the non-conference tilt.

The game was knotted up 22-22 at halftime, but North Branch put the pedal down in the second half, outscoring LF by seven points down the stretch.

Kuhlman and Folkema each had double-doubles, with Kuhlman pouring in 20 points and 10 boards while Folkema went nine-of-12 from the free throw line to score 13 points to go along with 10 boards

The Vikings overcame a tough shooting night from the field by going 20-of-29 from the charity stripe and grabbing 44 rebounds as a team.

North Branch 60, Big Lake 50

The good times kept rolling for the Vikings with a come-from-behind win over Big Lake on Friday December 13, marking North Branch’s third win in four days. 

The Hornets were leading 31-25 at the break, but a second half flurry from NB’s offense and lockdown defense resulted in the Vikings not only erasing the deficit, but pulling away for a double digit win.

Kuhlman again took on the scoring load for the Lady Vikes, especially in the second half, netting 26 points while shooting an effective seven-for-17 from beyond the arc. Folkema and Diaz each had big games for the Vikes, as well. Folkema just missed out on a double-double, scoring nine points and grabbing 11 boards. Diaz had eight points, eight rebounds and four steals.

The Vikings did have a little bump in the road earlier this week when they dropped a Mississippi 8 Conference game to powerhouse Becker, but they’ll look to regroup with a contest against winless Chisago Lakes on Thursday, December 19 in their last game before Christmas.

When they get back from the holiday break, the Vikings will be on the road for three straight against Grand Rapids, Cambridge-Isanti and Zimmerman.

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