The North Branch boys basketball team clinched first place in the Rum River Conference with a pair of wins last week and keeping its undefeated record intact.

The Vikings improved to 15-0 with a 70-42 win over Milaca Feb. 17 and a 66-52 win over St. Michael-Albertville Feb. 20. With three games remaining in the regular season, the Vikes will retain first place to claim the title. Foley has the second-best record in the RRC at 11-4.

North Branch 70 Milaca 42

The Vikes started slowly against the Wolves but went on a 14-3 run to end the first quarter with a 20-11 lead. ìWe were playing good defense and that was keying our offense,î Head Coach Bill Baumann said.

North Branch increased its lead by outscoring Milaca 18-11 in the second quarter to lead 38-22 at the half. First half scoring included 3 three-pointers from senior Matt Fletcher and 2 from senior Jake Anderson.

Anderson started the second half by sinking another three-pointer. North Branch led by as much as 24 points in the third quarter, ending with a 55-31 lead after three. The Vikes held Milaca to 6 points in the final quarter for the 70-42 win.

ìWe again played well as a team on the defensive end of the floor and we actually won the rebounding battle,î Baumann said. North Branch had 33 team rebounds while Milaca had 31.

The team improved from behind the arc, hitting 9 of 18 attempts for 50 percent.

ìWe are shooting better, so we have to be a little more patient on the offensive end and let the game come to us,î Baumann said.
Fletcher led the squad with 29 points but 13 points from Anderson and 11 points from senior Britt Baumann added to a more balanced offense. ìJake Anderson and Britt Baumann are starting to get their shot back and take some of the scoring pressure off of Matt Fletcher,î Baumann said.

North Branch 66 STMA 52

Baumann is often asked the question, ëwhat happens when all of your players have off nights?í ìWe found out against St. Michael,î Baumann said. ìWe shot 40 percent from the field in the first half but we were still able to hold a nine-point lead because of our defense.î

The Vikes led 17-10 after one quarter and 30-21 at the half.

Anderson and Fletcher had 2 three-pointers a piece in North Branchís 19-point third quarter. The squad led by as much as 17 points in the quarter, ending with the 49-34 edge. The Vikes increased the lead to 22 points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 66-52 win.

The balanced scoring continued for the Vikes, as three players were in double digits ñ Fletcher with 16 and Baumann and senior Matt Nelson with 13 each. Anderson added 9 and junior Tony Beaver had 8.

ìIt was a real pick me up that we had good scoring balance when we were struggling,î Baumann said. ìAll around, it was a great team effort. Our defense really stepped up and forced some big turnovers.

ìWe have been playing the passing lanes and have been taking people out of what they want to do. That's what it takes to win a championship, everybody doing their part.î

Baumann is pleased with the solid team play from everyone on the roster on every play. ìWe are starting to know the value of every possession offensively and defensively,î he said. ìWe want to get a good shot every time down and force our opponent into the shot we want them to take. when it gets to tournament time every possession becomes critical.î

The team finishes off the regular season against three Rum River opponents ñ at Zimmerman Feb. 24, home against Big Lake Feb. 27 and home against Foley March 5. All three could be tough, as Zimmerman looks for its first win as a new team in the conference this season, Big Lake comes into the contest in sixth place and Foley comes to town with an 11-4 record and second place in the RRC.

Baumann said the teamís final three regular season games will be great prep work as the squad heads into section play beginning March 11.

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