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Chisago Lakes ran into a pair of tough tests last week, coming up short against Becker and Zimmerman in Mississippi 8 Conference action as the Wildcats slipped to 1-4 on the season.

Becker 71, Chisago Lakes 51

The week opened with a 71-51 loss to Becker, a game that tilted early and never fully swung back in Chisago Lakes’ favor. The Bulldogs built a 39-21 advantage by halftime behind a balanced offensive attack and a big night from Isiah Boyer, who finished with a game-high 31 points.

Chisago Lakes struggled to generate consistent offense in the opening half but showed better flow after the break. Cohen Underhill led the Wildcats with 20 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double that included four three-pointers. Colton Beaver added 10 points, while Colton Betts scored eight and provided a spark on both ends of the floor.

The Wildcats played Becker nearly even in the second half, scoring 30 points, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Becker had multiple scoring options, with Bryce Paumen adding 16 points and Nathan Weiss chipping in 10 to keep the Bulldogs comfortably in front.

Zimmerman 78, Chisago Lakes 52

Chisago Lakes followed that outing with a 78-52 loss to Zimmerman, another game that was competitive early before getting away in the second half. Zimmerman carried a 43-30 lead into halftime, then tightened defensively after the break, limiting the Wildcats to 22 second-half points.

Underhill once again shouldered much of the offensive load, pouring in 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting while adding eight rebounds. Beaver finished with 13 points and six rebounds, and Betts contributed seven points and seven boards as Chisago Lakes worked to stay within striking distance.

The Wildcats had opportunities at the free-throw line, converting 15-of-22 attempts, but cold shooting from beyond the arc — 5-of-18 — made it difficult to keep pace. Zimmerman capitalized on its chances down the stretch, gradually widening the gap as the game wore on.

Despite the losses, Chisago Lakes showed signs of progress defensively, recording seven steals against Zimmerman and limiting second-chance opportunities in stretches. 

With the season still in its early weeks, the Wildcats continue to look for consistency and depth scoring to complement Underhill’s production. 

Chisago Lakes will have a chance to respond with two more M8C road games. The Wildcats travel to North Branch on Thursday, December 18, before heading to Monticello on Tuesday, December 23.

Those matchups will serve as an important measuring stick as Chisago Lakes works to gain traction before the holiday break.

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