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Itís a conference showdown

By Danielle Strenke
Every high school sports team has a pivotal game in its schedule that turns out to be the game of the year. This Thursday could be that game for the North Branch girls basketball team.
At 9-1 in the Rum River Conference, the Vikings hold second place behind 10-0 Chisago Lakes. The two teams will face off Thursday at Chisago Lakes where the Vikes hope to avenge their only loss in conference play this season.
A win would propel the Vikings into a first-place tie with the Wildcats and avenge the heart-breaking overtime loss Dec. 10 that ended a 36-game conference win streak for North Branch.
North Branch extended its win streak to 12 games with a 51-32 win over Princeton and a big 64-17 win against Mora last week.
The Vikes took a 23-9 halftime lead against the Tigers, despite a slow start. They squad came out and outscored Princeton 18-5 in the third quarter, and with excellent defense throughout the half secured the win. ìPrinceton likes to penetrate and drive to the basket and we really shut that down and made them shoot from the outside,î Head Coach Dan Schindler said.
He is starting to see a better balance offensively from the team, led in the game by seniors Traci Reimann with 13 points and Christina Sampson with 10.
Mora posed no threat to North Branch in a 64-17 win last Friday, as the Vikes took a 21-4 lead after one quarter. Sampson had 3 three-pointers in the quarter, and Reimann added 1.
The lead extended to 42-11 at the half, and Schindler was able to get all of his reserve players into the game in the second half. ìIt was nice to get some of our bench players a lot of playing time,î he said. ìThey work hard and deserve quality minutes.î He cited the play of Jenny Anderson, Brooke Beaver, Jenny Beader, Katie Hasleiet and Rachel Brown as key contributors to retaining North Branchís lead in the half.
A total of 13 players scored for the Vikings, led by Sampson with 14.
Schindler said the team is prepared for Thursdayís game. ìWe are playing our best basketball right now and look forward to the rematch.îÝ

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