Boys squad earns two wins
Fletcher reaches 1,000 mark
The North Branch boys basketball team opened Rum River Conference play with an impressive 78-42 win over Princeton last Friday after picking up a non-conference 62-59 win against White Bear Lake earlier in the week. Senior Matt Fletcher became the third player in North Branch history to achieve the 1,000 point mark in his career with 16 points against Princeton. He now has 1,003 points in his career. The Vikes and White Bear were tied 13-13 after one quarter Dec. 9, before North Branch went on a 9-0 run for a 32-38 lead at halftime. The run included 3 three-pointers in three consecutive possessions. ìWe came out really sluggish and just tried to sit outside the three point line,î Head Coach Bill Baumann said. ìWe werenít attacking the basket and we were letting White Bear do what they wanted on offense.î The Vikings held the lead until the Bears took the lead with 5 minutes remaining in the game. Both teams battled back and forth, until White Bear regained the lead with seconds remaining. North Branch got the ball, and Fletcher sunk a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime on a 54-54 tie. Fletcher started overtime with another basket, which was answered by White Bear. Senior Britt Baumann found his way loose under the basket to give the Vikes a lead they would never relinquish, on way to a 62-59 win. ìIf you are going to be a good team you have to find ways to win when you arenít playing too well,î Baumann said. ìWe had the flu running through the team and we were playing like we were sick. But you have to give the kids credit for hanging in there and pulling this one out.î Fletcher led with 27 points and 8 rebounds, while senior Jake Anderson added 16. Baumann had 8 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Princeton attempted to stay with the Vikes early Dec. 12, but North Branch took the lead early and led 23-14 after one quarter. The Vikes dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 19-6 for a commanding 42-20 halftime lead. North Branch continued the onslaught in the third quarter, outscoring Princeton 26-7 and taking a 68-27 lead. Fletcher reached his 1,000th point in the quarter, on a layup pass from junior Tony Beaver. Baumann utilized most of his bench players in the fourth quarter as North Branch went on to win 78-42.
The Vikes saw 11 players score in the game, led by Anderson with 17. Fletcher followed with 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Baumann added 14 points and 7 assists. Senior Matt Nelson added 7 and senior Bowie McClaskie had 6. Junior Al Moore added 5, while senior Ben Stenberg and Beaver added 4 apiece. Sophomores Dominick Stahley and Ben Forrest had 2 points each. The wins improve the Vikings to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the RRC. This week, the team faced Mora Tuesday and takes on Chisago Lakes Friday at home.
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