Gabrielle Olson scored her 1,000th career point against St. Francis Feb. 9. She is fourth on the all-time list with 1007. Megan O'Hern is third overall with 1141.

By Steve Morris

Get out the fire extinguisher because the North Branch girls basketball team is on fire.

For the second consecutive week, the Vikings kicked a top rated team to the curb like yesterday's trash.

Last week, it was Spring Lake Park they knocked off. On Feb 6. from the comfort of their own court, the girls edged the defending class AAA state champions Benilde-St. Margaret's by four points, 39-43. In winning, the girls ended the Red Knights impressive 64 game North Suburban Conference winning streak.

And head coach Dan Schindler couldn't be happier.

"It was a great team effort. The coaching staff is extremely proud of this group and how hard they have worked to improve from our slow start," Schindler said.

The last time the two teams played, Benilde thumped the Vikings by 21 points, 55 to 34 on the road.

It was a different story this time around as the Vikings played a much better, well-rounded game.

Led by Randi Zentner's eight steals, the Vikings kept the Knights on their toes the entire game.

"I thought Randi Zentner played great defense on their very powerful center. She was outsized considerably but just worked hard and denied her the basketball," Schindler said.

In the first half, the girls jumped ahead 13-6 with the help of their 2-3 zone that slowed the pace down. Soon the Knights fought back, but not enough to take a significant lead. At halftime North Branch led 21-18.

In the second half, the girls were able to stretch their lead to as many as 11 points, only to watch the Knights fire back, to come within two points.

Senior Gabrielle Olson paced the Vikings with 16 points and six assists while Tiffany Good added 10 rebounds.

Against St. Francis, Olson made school history by becoming the fourth player to enter the elite 1,000 point club.

Olson did it all and finished the game one rebound shy of a triple double. She ended with 16 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

However, the girls were lacking gusto and fell to a tough St. Francis team 56-48. The loss ended the Vikings seven-game winning streak.

Schindler was quick to credit the St. Francis club.

"They have a lot of weapons and are a very good basketball team," Schindler said.

Benilde St. Margaret 18 21 39
North Branch 21 22 43

Kacie Ramberg 5, Tiffany Good 7, Randi Zentner 4, Kristen Robatcek 6, Megan Scherer 3, Gabrielle Olson 16, Ashley Johnson 2.

North Branch 21 27 48
St. Francis 25 31 56

Kacie Ramberg 2, Tiffany Good 13, Randi Zentner 4, Kristen Robatcek 9, Amy Aho 4, Gabrielle Olson 16