This Weeks Local Basketball Highlights

An up-tempo style and an improved defense produced two victories for the Kelliher-Northome girls basketball team last week.

“Offensively the girls are really pushing the tempo, moving the ball and playing well as a team,” said K-N coach Justin Lundin after the Mustangs downed Red Lake 82-58 and thumped Blackduck 74-30.

“We’ve also worked hard to improve our defense and it is really showing.”

Katey Lutz had 34 points, 17 rebounds and seven steals to lead K-N past Red Lake. Kelly Heck added 19 points and four steals, Shelene Head had 11 points and Danielle Nistler had 10.

In the victory over Blackduck, Heck had 24 points, Lutz 19 points, Head 11 and Carrie Carrigan 10.

“I am proud of the way the girls play as a team, make adjustments and help each other out,” Lundin continued.

Kelliher-Northome (9-5) hosted Littfork-Big Falls Monday and entertains Nevis Tuesday.

Blackduck dropped to 2-11 after losing to Clearbrook-Gonvick 75-13, to Bigfork 51-17 and to K-N 74-30.

Cass Lake-Bena (4-13) lost 47-45 at Deer River while Laporte (1-13) fell 69-40 to Hill City and 60-18 to Clearbrook-Gonvick.

Red Lake (4-7) fell to K-N and also lost 94-58 at Crookston while Bagley (5-10) lost 55-42 to Norman County East, 62-22 to Ada-Borup and 59-55 to Roseau.

Cass Lake-Bena saw its seven-game winning streak snapped Jan. 16 when the Panthers (11-2) lost 104-80 at Deer River.

The Panthers hoped to start another winning streak Monday when they visited BGMR. Friday they will host Blackduck which is 9-5 after defeating Clearbrook-Gonvick 79-64 and Kelliher-Northome 83-46 last week.

K-N (6-6) also lost 92-81 to Red Lake and the Warriors (11-5) completed a 2-0 week with a 95-68 win over Pine River-Backus.

Bagley won two of its three games last week as the Flyers (8-5) defeated Norman County East 58-40 and Warroad 63-31 around a 70-64 double-overtime loss to Ada-Borup.

Laporte (1-8) continued to struggle, losing 80-34 to Hill City and 79-52 to Clearbrook-Gonvick (4-8)