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North Branch continues to search for answers on the offensive end as the Vikings dropped three more games last week, falling to Hibbing, Little Falls and Big Lake to slip to 0-6 on the season.

Hibbing 68, North Branch 25

Hibbing set the tone early in a 68-25 win over North Branch on Saturday, December 6, using pressure defense and transition scoring to pull away. The Vikings struggled to find consistent looks at the basket, shooting 10-of-45 from the field. Sophia Petersen led North Branch with nine points and six rebounds, while Sharleen Garcia Velazquez added five points. Natalia Rosales was a bright spot on the glass, pulling down a game-high 17 rebounds to go along with four points.

Little Falls 83, North Branch 19

The offensive challenges continued in an 83-19 loss to Little Falls on Monday, December 8. North Branch was limited to nine field goals as Little Falls controlled the tempo on both ends of the floor. Rosales again led the Vikings, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Petersen scored four points, while Ainslee Hunter and Carolyn Lombard each added two.

Big Lake 92, North Branch 36

The Hornets handed North Branch a 92-36 loss in its most recent outing on Friday, December 12. While the final score was lopsided, the 36 points marked a season high for the Vikings. Rosales paced North Branch with 19 points, accounting for more than half of the team’s offense. Annabelle Lattimore added six points, while Petersen and Alyssa Rediske scored four and three points, respectively.

Through six games, scoring has been a consistent challenge for the Vikings under first-year head coach Claire Patterson. North Branch has yet to reach 40 points in a game, and turnovers have often fueled opponents’ transition opportunities. Despite the growing pains, Patterson has continued to emphasize development, effort and learning to compete for four quarters.

North Branch will look to build towards their first win with a pair of upcoming games before the holiday break. The Vikings host rival Chisago Lakes on Thursday, December 18, before hosting Hinckley-Finlayson on Monday, December. 22.

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