Boys hoops notch 15th win

The Vikings boys basketball squad picked up its 15th win and increased its win streak to 8 with a 52-46 victory against Princeton Feb. 11.
The Tigers took an early 5-point lead in the opening minute of the game, before junior Britt Baumann hit a three-pointer. North Branch continued to trail throughout the first quarter, which ended with the Vikes on the short end at 18-14.
Head Coach Bill Baumann said the team was flat to begin the game. ìWe came out complacent and basically played just well enough to win. Our defensive energy wasnít there at the beginning and we gave up too many easy shots,î he said.
The Vikes showed some renewed energy in the second quarter, shutting out Princeton as the team tallied 17 points in the quarter to take a 31-18 lead at halftime.
Princeton rallied to outscore the Vikings 14-9 in the third quarter and 14-12 in the fourth quarter, but was unable to take over for the win.
Although the team was nearly 74 percent in 2-point attempts, the Vikes hit only 6 of 22 shots outside the arc, for 27 percent. ìThe kids realized we werenít on outside the three-point arc so they really took the game inside and did some solid work around the basket,î Baumann said.
Junior Matt Fletcher led the team in scoring with 17 points, and also tallied 5 rebounds. Baumann and junior Jake Anderson had 10 apiece and senior Tyler Higley added 9. Senior Jared Gagne came up with 4 and 2 from sophomore Tony Beaver rounded out the scoring.
At 15-5, the Vikings have four games left in the regular season, beginning with Foley, scheduled for Feb. 18 and home against Pine City Friday. Next week, the team faces conference foes Big Lake and St. Michael-Albertville to finish the regular season.

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