North Branch almost sinks score record

The North Branch boys basketball team is ìplaying the way we expected to play all year long,î head coach Bill Baumann said, as the Vikings picked up two conference wins last week over Chisago Lakes and Mora.
The team was just one point away from tying the schoolís all-time scoring record in an 83-49 win against Mora at home Jan. 28.
The Vikes exploded with 21 points in the first quarter while allowing only 8 to the Mustangs.
Mora picked up its pace in the second, but North Branch took a 38-23 lead at halftime, downing 9 three-pointers in the half.
North Branch continued its relentless attack in the third quarter, racking up 23 points and keeping Mora in single digits again with 9. Junior Matt Fletcher started the quarter with a three-pointer for the Vikes, and the team never looked back.
North Branch saw its lead increase to as much as 41 points in the fourth quarter, as most of the reserve players saw playing time in the final stanza.
The Vikes shot for 50 percent behind the arc in the game, adding 10 three-pointers in the second half.
Individually, Fletcher led with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Senior Tyler Higley and junior Jake Anderson picked up 15 each, with junior Britt Baumann racking up 14 points. Six other Vikings scored in the contest: sophomore Tony Beaver (4), senior Jared Gagne (3), senior Darren Breslin (3), senior Jeremy Anderson (2), junior Bowie McClaskie (2) and sophomore Greg Moriarty (2).
Baumann sees a team playing more aggressively with every game. ìBy attacking the basket we are starting to get some great looks outside and just about anybody on our team can knock it down,î he said. ìAll four of our big three-point shooters were on during the game and we are taking less ëthreesí but making more.î
The second win of the week came for the Vikings in a 55-45 win Friday against Chisago Lakes.
Higley sunk a three to open the game and the Vikings never relinquished the lead. North Branch took a 25-22 lead at the half after being outscored 12-8 in the second quarter.
Baumann said the team was ready for an intense game. ìIt was a typical North Branch/Chisago Lakes game,î he said.
ìBoth teams played hard and with extreme intensity. Chisago plays an aggressive defense that makes you adjust and do thing you donít normally do.î
The Wildcats closed to within 2 points in the fourth quarter, but the Vikes added 3 three-pointers along with 5 free throws to put it out of reach.
ìWe were patient on the offensive end and took what they gave us,î Baumann said. ìThey made a couple of runs at us but we were able to answer with some big shots.î
Fletcher led the team again, this time with 17 points, followed by Baumann with 14, Jake Anderson with 8 and Higley with 6. Gagne added 4, Beaver had 3, senior Jeremy Jaques had 2 and Breslin had 1.
The Vikes took a five-game win streak into a home game against Brooklyn Center Tuesday as it looks to add a win to its 12-5 record. The schedule wraps up with six Rum River Conference matchups after that, beginning with Milaca Thursday and Princeton next Tuesday, both on the road.

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