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CHISAGO LAKES BOYS

Chisago Lakes built a big first-half cushion and then held on late to edge Princeton 74-71 in a Mississippi 8 Conference boys basketball game at Chisago Lakes High School last week.

The Wildcats came out sharp on both ends, taking a 41-25 lead into halftime behind balanced scoring and active defense. Joe Couwenhoven set the tone with aggressive drives and playmaking, finishing with 19 points, six assists and six steals. Colton Betts gave Chisago Lakes a lift from the perimeter, knocking down six 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 20 points.

Princeton rallied after the break, outscoring the Wildcats 46-33 in the second half to make it a one-possession game in the final minutes. Jaxson Olson led the Tigers’ comeback effort with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Drew Julson and Noah Stencel added 13 points apiece. 

Chisago Lakes answered the push with timely baskets from Alex Johnson, who scored 15 points, and Will Pearson, who added 10. Colton Beaver controlled the glass with 12 rebounds and chipped in four points.

Despite Princeton’s late surge, the Wildcats did enough at the line and on the defensive end to close out the three-point win on their home floor.

NORTH BRANCH BOYS

North Branch boys basketball ran into a hot-shooting Becker team Friday night, falling 97-40 in a road game at Becker High School.

The Bulldogs jumped out early and never let up, using pressure defense and transition scoring to build a commanding lead by halftime. North Branch struggled to find a rhythm offensively against Becker’s depth and pace, but continued to compete throughout the night despite the lopsided score.

First-year head coach Rob Anderson said the result doesn’t define where his team is headed as the calendar turns to a new year.

“We have had a tough start to the season, but with the new year we are starting fresh,” Anderson said. “We have a great group of young men and some really good basketball players. We are starting to gel as a team and beginning to believe in one another.”

Anderson said the focus moving forward will be on improving offensive and defensive execution while building trust within the lineup. 

CHISAGO LAKES GIRLS

Chisago Lakes girls basketball dropped three close contests last week, with all three games decided by single digits or competitive into the final stretch.

The Wildcats opened the stretch at home on Wednesday, Jan. 7, falling 55-52 to Princeton. Chisago Lakes battled throughout and had chances late, but the Tigers were able to make enough plays down the stretch to secure the three-point win at Chisago Lakes High School.

On Friday, Jan. 9, the Wildcats traveled north to face Grand Rapids and came up just short in a 49-45 loss to the Thunderhawks. The game remained tight throughout, with Chisago Lakes staying within striking distance until the final minutes before Grand Rapids closed it out at the free-throw line.

The week wrapped up Monday, Jan. 12, with a 60-46 road loss at Zimmerman. Despite the final margin, Chisago Lakes stayed competitive through much of the game before Zimmerman pulled away late.

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