Posted: 2/7/07
Vikes win two straight
 Senior Justin Novak works on getting the ball out of the corner during a game against St. Louis Park Feb. 1 in North Branch. |
By Steve Morris
The Vikings had the wherewithal to put together two wins against two North Suburban Conference teams on Jan. 30 and Feb. 2.
For their last game of January, the team posted a win against St. Louis Park by six points, 50-44.
Junior Jake Chambers had a team-high 13 points.
The game was like a spinning saucer, ready to tip in any direction. Over the course of the game, there were nine ties and 13 lead changes.
One difference-maker for the Vikings was the the play of performance of their bench. North Branch's bench out scored the Orioles's bench 10-0.
Points from turnovers also nudged the Vikings over the hump -- the Vikes had 22 points off turnovers compared to 14 by the Orioles.
"We are not fully executing yet but we are making progress," head coach Bill Baumann said.
Against the Fridley Tigers, a school the team has grown to know well since switching to the North Suburban Conference, the Vikings won by two points, 51-49.
Eric Sampson was made the hero with the help of a timely pass by Chambers with four seconds remaining.
Chambers paced the team with 13 points.
"Our defense and our hustle have been keeping us in games. We are still learning to sustain that intensity for the full game and not have some mental lapses but we are making progress," Baumann said.
North Branch 27 24 51
Fridley 23 26 49
Justin Novak 8, John Lindstrom 3, Jake Chambers 18, Bryce Hunter 9, DJ Charley 2, Eric Sampson 11.
North Branch 26 24 50
St. Louis Park 27 17 44
Ryan Norman 4, Jake Kovarik 4, Justin Novak 8, Nick Perrin 8, John Lindstrom 7, Jake Chambers 13, Bryce Hunter 6.
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