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Chisago Lakes closed out a busy week on the hardwood with a split, overwhelming Hermantown at home before running into a hot-shooting Grand Rapids squad on the road.

Chisago Lakes 98, Hermantown 75

The Wildcats were at their best Monday, Feb. 9, erupting for a 98-75 win over Hermantown at Chisago Lakes High School. Chisago Lakes built a 54-44 halftime lead and never looked back, pouring in 44 second-half points to pull away.

Senior Cohen Underhill delivered a dominant performance, finishing with a game-high 36 points on 16-of-22 shooting, while also pulling down eight rebounds. Joe Couwenhoven added 24 points, knocking down 10-of-12 free throws and swiping five steals to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

Colton Beaver chipped in 13 points and six rebounds, while Colton Betts posted a nice line of 11 points, five assists and three rebounds. Logan Senske added six points and Luke Leadholm contributed on the glass and defensively as the Wildcats finished with a 39-29 rebounding edge and 14 steals.

Grand Rapids 83, Chisago Lakes 51

The momentum, however, didn’t carry over to Saturday’s road trip to Grand Rapids, where the Wildcats fell 83-51. Grand Rapids opened the game on a 42-18 run and maintained control throughout, using its depth and perimeter shooting to stretch the margin.

Betts had 11 points, while Couwenhoven scored 12. Alex Johnson and Senske each added six points, and Underhill finished with six as the Wildcats struggled to find a rhythm offensively.

The ‘Cats have just three games left in the regular season, all away games. They took on St. Francis on Tuesday, February 17 and then travel to Becker on Thursday, February 19, Cambridge-Isanti on February 20 and South St. Paul on Tuesday, February 24.

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