Vikes are state-bound!

By Danielle Strenke
Everyone who was at the section 6AAA girls basketball finals Friday night would probably describe it as one of the most exciting, dramatic games they have attended. But for the North Branch team and its fans, it was also one of the best.
The Vikings girls pulled off a 33-32 victory in the final seconds of the game against No. 1 seeded-Totino-Grace to earn its third trip to the state tournament in the last four years.
To advance to the finals, the Vikes defeated Chisago Lakes in their third meeting of the season.
After the Wildcats took a 9-4 first quarter lead, North Branch battled back and led 19-14 at halftime. For the half, the Vikes held Chisagoís top scorer Kari Schmidt to 8 points.
North Branch extended its lead by 12 points in the third quarter, and held on to a 10-point lead with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game.
ìThat is when Chisago got hot and hit some big shots,î Head Coach Dan Schindler said. ìWe didnít take care of the basketball as good as I would have liked, but Chisago didnít quit either.î
Both teams had an extended time out in the finals minutes of the quarter as rowdy Chisago Lakes students were ejected from the game for continuing to blast an air horn.
Schmidt hit for 2 three-pointers in those finals minutes and the lead was cut to 2 points. The Wildcats got the ball back and took a shot at the buzzer that missed for an exciting North Branch 43-41 win. Schmidt ended the game with 25 points for the Wildcats.
For the Vikings, Christina Sampson led with 15 points, followed by Rauna Dallman with 9 and Alison Trampe with 7.
The scene of the finals played out at North High School, where the Vikings and the Eagles faced off in the finals; the same matchup in the 2002 finals at the same school. Last year had a very different outcome, however, as the Eagles advanced to state with a 53-46 win.
It was a defensive battle from the start, as Totino scored first with a free throw more than two minutes into the game.
Both teams battled to get near the basket, and the lead went back and forth with the Vikes taking the 15-14 edge at halftime.
ìBoth teams played great defense,î Schindler said. ìTotino is a very quick team and they did a good job of doubling the ball.î
After a second half start that saw no scoring in the first four minutes, the Vikings took control and set the tempo in the third quarter. With more opportunities to see the basket, North Branch took a 24-18 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles persisted in the fourth, and charged back to take its first lead of the half at 32-28 with less than three minutes remaining.
Totino ran out much of the clock until only :55 seconds remained. ìMany people thought we had lost the game, but this team just doesnít quit,î Schindler said.
North Branch got the ball back, and senior Sarah Rauen put in a rebound to narrow it to 32-30. She was fouled on the shot, and went on to sink one free throw, as the Vikes saw themselves behind by 1 point with 30 seconds remaining.
Schindlerís goal was to get the ball to senior Traci Reimann, but as senior Rauna Dallman drove the lane she was fouled with less than 5 seconds left for the chance to win the game.
ìI think all players dream about making free throws to win games, but Rauna had to make them to get us to the state tournament,î Schindler said.
Dallman was up for the challenge of winning the game and tuning out a packed crowd of chaotic fans from both sides, sinking both shots for the 33-32 lead and the win.
ìWhat a game ñ this is unbelievable. I said at the beginning of the season these girls are winners and they proved it again tonight,î Schindler said.
Dallman led the game with 15 points, followed by senior Christina Sampson with 9 and Rauen with 6.
State Quarterfinals for section AAA started Tuesday, as North Branch faced Minneapolis North, making its 7th straight state tournament appearance. The winner advances to the semifinals Thursday, with the championship and consolation games Saturday, all played at Williams Arena, U of M.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com