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Chisago Lakes pulled away in the second half Thursday night to earn a 67-53 boys basketball win over North Branch in a county rivalry on December 18. 

After a tightly contested first half, the Wildcats used improved defense and timely scoring to separate themselves and secure the victory.

The game was close early, with Chisago Lakes holding a slim 32-31 lead at halftime. North Branch stayed within striking distance behind some nice perimeter play and physical defense, but the Wildcats responded after the break by controlling the tempo and limiting second-chance opportunities.

Joe Couwenhoven led Chisago Lakes with a game-high 21 points, doing much of his damage from beyond the arc. He knocked down four three-pointers and added eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a strong all-around effort. 

Cohen Underhill also played a key role for the ‘Cats, finishing with 20 points and five rebounds. Underhill was aggressive attacking the basket and made 11 of 14 free-throw attempts, helping the Wildcats maintain their lead down the stretch.

Colton Betts added 10 points for Chisago Lakes, while Colton Beaver chipped in nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night. Beaver also dished out four assists and grabbed four rebounds, providing a spark on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats finished 20-of-33 from the free-throw line, a big reason they were able to pull away late.

Chisago Lakes tightened up defensively in the second half, holding North Branch to 22 points after the break. The Wildcats recorded 13 steals and when they didn’t get the swipe, they forced the Vikings to work deep into the shot clock on most possessions.

With the win, Chisago Lakes earned bragging rights in the rivalry. NB just wasn’t able to match the Wildcats’ execution in the final 18 minutes.

Chisago Lakes improved to 2-5 with the win. They traveled to Monticello earlier this week and will play in the University of Minnesota-Duluth Holiday Classic over the break, playing Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld on December 29 and 30.

North Branch fell to 0-5 on the year with the loss — although they would get their first win of the season over Pine City the next night, 77-58. They are done with their schedule before Christmas, but immediately jump into play after the big holiday. They’ll take on Providence Academy and Rockford in the Granite City Classic in St. Cloud on Friday and Saturday, December 26 and 27.

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