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NORTH BRANCH GIRLS

North Branch’s girls team had been the lone bright spot for the county basketball scene this year, but they took on the second place St. Francis squad on Tuesday, January 21 in their lone action of the week and fell 54-49.

It looked like the Vikings were going to get their biggest win of the year over St. Francis, who was 6-1 in the Mississippi 8 heading into the game. North Branch took a double digit lead into the halftime break, up 32-22. Ella Kuhlman, Katelyn Lattimore and Bella Folkema had been the focal point of the offense at that point.

But, their offense went through a cold stretch in the second half, and the resilient Saints showed why they are a top M8C team this year.

They outscored North Branch 32-17 over the second half and finished off the come from behind victory with the late flurry.

The loss was NB’s second in a row, albeit to the top two teams in the conference, after a five game win streak.

Kuhlman had 18 points and 10 rebounds, as well as five assists and three steals.

Lattimore had 10 points and Folkema had nine points and five boards.

The Vikings hosted Big Lake earlier this week and will travel to Becker on Friday, January 31 for another tough match up. After that, however, six of their last eight games are at home.

CHISAGO LAKES GIRLS

Two contests against Becker and Rock Ridge went sideways quickly for the Chisago Lakes girls hoops squad.

The Lady Wildcats scored in the single digits in three of the four halves they played, including scoring only eight in the first half against Becker and seven in the second half in the ‘Cats 63-15 loss on Thursday, January 23.

CL’s top scorer against the Bulldogs was RaeAnn Goehring, who netted six.

Against Rock Ridge, the ‘Cats got a little bit more offense in the first half, but were still outscored 38-17. In the second half, the Wolverines continued to pulled away, outscoring CL 20-9.

Things didn’t get any easier for CL this week. They took on undefeated Monticello on Tuesday, January 28, and then travel out of conference to play Mound Westonka on Friday, January 31.

CHISAGO LAKES BOYS

The Wildcat boys squad only had one game last week, as they hosted Becker on Thursday, January 23, and the Bulldogs sent CL to their ninth straight loss, 82-55. Becker got big games from Bryce Paumen, who scored 25, and Nathan Weiss and Sawyer Brown, who combined for 34 points.

Joe Couwenhoven was the only Wildcat in double figures, as he netted 19 points in the loss.

NORTH BRANCH BOYS

Not much went North Branch’s way when they took on the St. Francis Saints on Tuesday, January 21.

St. Francis was just 2-10 on the regular season heading into the game, and had only won one conference game, but they blew NB out 82-48 in a tough loss for the Vikings.

NB did get a much better effort in their weekend matinee game against Grand Rapids on Saturday, January 25, but they still fell to the Thunderhawks 54-51 to lose their ninth straight game.

They hosted Big Lake on Tuesday, January 28 and travel to Becker on Friday, January 31. 

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