FIELD TWP- The North Woods boys got back on the winning track last Friday, scoring a convincing 76-47 win over Kelliher-Northome on their home court, halting a three-game losing streak.
The Mustangs scored the game’s first bucket, but after the Grizzlies’ Jared Chiabotti answered with a fast break basket at 14:40, North Woods never looked back. The Grizzlies got early productivity down low from Kaden Ratai and rode treys by Jared and Brenden Chiabotti to a 19-9 advantage nine minutes into the game. The Mustangs were rattled by the Grizzlies’ stifling man defense as North Woods built a 30-16 lead with Ratai doing much of the damage in the run. With Jonah Burnett getting into the scoring mix, the Grizzlies went into the half leading 36-22.
Louie Panichi sparked the Grizzlies early in the second half with a pair of buckets, but the Mustangs held their ground for the first eight minutes of the period, trailing 51-35. A trey by Burnett and a basket by Ratai gave the Grizzlies a 21-point advantage. Burnett capitalized on a technical foul against K-N by knocking down a pair of free throws and then scoring on the ensuing possession to put the Grizzlies up 67-39, their largest lead of the game. North Woods coasted from there for the 27-point win.
It was a big game for senior Ratai, who pumped in 19 points and snagged 15 rebounds for the double-double. Burnett also notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Jared Chiabotti knocked down 16 points.
Loss to Cherry
The Grizzlies went on the road Tuesday to face Cherry, a team riding a six-game winning streak. The Tigers made it seven in a row with an 84-65 win. North Woods kept the game competitive early on, and trailed 49-35 at the half. But the Tigers reeled off a 19-6 run after the break to lead 68-65. Cherry was up on the Grizzlies by as many as 30 points in the second half, but North Woods cut into that lead after the Tigers got well down into their bench in the final minutes. The loss dropped the Grizzlies to 7-8 on the season.