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Girls

Rock Ridge was the Grim Reaper for both North Branch and Chisago Lakes’ girls basketball seasons last week.

The top-seeded Wolverines capped off the Vikings’ winless season by hammering them 103-27 on Wednesday, February 25 at Rock Ridge.

The loss put North Branch’s record at 0-26 in what was a trying year for first time head coach Claire Patterson.

Chisago Lakes, who was 7-19 heading into the section and seeded fifth, fared a bit better, winning their opening round game against fourth-seeded Duluth Denfeld on Wednesday, February 25. They traveled to Duluth to take out the Hunters 59-55.

But, what awaited them was the same top seeded Rock Ridge squad that lit up North Branch earlier in the week.

The Wildcats took another long road trip to Rock Ridge on Saturday, February 28, and the Wolverings dispatched them handily, 72-45, ending their season at 8-20.

Boys

Both the Wildcat and Viking boys teams wound down their regular seasons  with some struggles of their own.

The Wildcats have alternated wins and losses all through February with wins over North Branch, Hermantown, St. Francis and Cambridge-Isanti, but they’ve dropped some blowouts to Princeton, Grand Rapids, Becker and South St. Paul.

The ‘Cats finished 11-15 on the year, which was good enough to earn them the fourth seed in Section 7AAA. 

They hosted Hermantown on Wednesday, March 4 after the Press deadline. If they win that game, they’ll likely take on top-seeded Grand Rapids in the section semifinals. The Thunderhawks beat CL by 32 earlier this month.

North Branch ended the regular season on a 12 game losing streak and drew the eighth seed in Section 7AAA after a 2-24 showing.

They take on top-seeded Rapids in the first round, (who beat them 82-57 in  February) on Wednesday, March 4 after deadline. If they lose, their season will end, but if they pulled off the massive upset, the winner of CL-Hermantown awaits.

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