Foley snatches OT win

By Danielle Strenke
It was a week of big games for the North Branch boys basketball team. It started with a tough 62-56 overtime loss to Foley at home Tuesday, and ended with a 60-58 win at Big Lake Friday.
The Vikings trailed through much of the first half against the Falcons, but rallied to take the 25-22 lead with seconds remaining in the second quarter.
As the buzzer sounded, junior Britt Baumann launched an off-balance shot from outside the arc toward the basket. The subsequent swish for 3 points led to huge cheers of amazement from the crowd, as North Branch headed to the locker room with a 28-22 halftime lead.
Offensively, the Vikes struggled to get the ball inside during the first half and were forced to take three-point shots. The team was only 4 for 16 in three-point attempts.
The second half began with Baumann continuing his three-point onslaught, hitting 2 three-pointers in the third quarter and then starting off the fourth quarter with three more from behind the arc.
Both teams took turns holding the lead, only to have it change with the next basket. Through the second half, the lead changed 24 times and both quarters ended in ties.
With less than a minute remaining, Foley came back from a 50-46 deficit to tack on four free throws and send the game into overtime at 50-all.
The Falcons gained the first possession of OT and it was all the team would need to jump out to a nine-point lead. The Vikes came up with six points in overtime, but were unable to overcome the wide margin, falling 62-56.
Baumann led the offense with 18 points, including 5 of 10 from outside the arc. Junior Matt Fletcher added 13 points, senior Tyler Higley had 8, senior Jeremy Jaques had 6, senior Jared Gagne had 4, junior Jake Anderson had 3 and senior Darren Breslin and sophomore Tony Beaver had 2 each.
The Vikes came back to notch a 60-58 win against Big Lake Friday. The squad trailed 24-22 at the half, but went on a third quarter tear to rack up 27 points in the quarter and take a 49-36 into the final stanza.
North Branch trailed 58-56 with less than a minute remaining. Fletcher sunk a field goal to tie it up, and Breslin knocked in the rebound on the teamís next possession with two seconds left in the game for the 60-58 win.
Fletcher had one of his best games of the season, with 23 points including 7 of 8 field goals. Baumann and Jake Anderson each added 11, Higley had 7, Gagne had 6 and Breslin had 2.
The squad holds an 8-5 record overall as it starts the second half of the season.
This week, the team was scheduled to take on St. Michael-Albertville Tuesday and host Princeton Thursday.

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