There was a net-cutting ceremony Saturday, Feb. 23 after Central Lakes College defeated Rainy River 115-105 in the final game of the Northern Division season.
The team could have lost and still celebrated as they had clinched the division championship prior to Saturday's win.
Chris Buckley, one of the first players up to cut a string off the net, led the team with 26 points and 12 rebounds. He was one of the key shooters in a blistering first half where the Raiders shot 50 percent from behind the 3-point arc and 55 percent from the floor.
Four sophomores, Buckley, Malik Kelly, AJ Ray, and Dylan McClain played their last home game. McLain earned his first start of the season, Ray tallied 17 points and Kelly dished out six assists as the Raiders won their 12th-straight game. They also swept the season series from the Voyagers, as they defeated them 91-73 Jan. 19.
"This is big and that is why we are celebrating," Raiders head coach Jim Russell said of the net-cutting ceremony. "It doesn't come every day. They have worked really hard. I told them before the game, 'look guys. We survived people quitting, guys being injured, and eligibility issues and you survived. Now you know what it takes to win and that is why we celebrate.'"
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After a 75-72 loss on their home floor to Ridgewater Jan. 5, a team that is currently 3-10 in Southern Division play, the Raiders did some soul-searching. The team responded by winning 14 of its next 15 games, finishing with a 15-1 division record and will head to next week's MCAC State Tournament at Anoka-Ramsey as a No. 1 seed with a 22-5 overall record.
"Nobody gave up on coach or the system," Buckley said. "We all bought into his system and gave it our all through the practices and doing the school work. Everyone did the little things and that is what it takes to be No. 1 and we look forward to moving on through the playoffs.
"I have to give it all to my teammates. We couldn't do it if we didn't have that chemistry. It took everyone, players and coaches, and it is just a good feeling."
The last person to cut the net down was Russell. He admitted, jokingly, to not having to work very hard with his team down the stretch.
"That comes from all of my sophomores," he said. "The best part is that they are running the practice and they know what to do on the court and that is so much fun. We had to do a lot of things early in the year, but I told them at the end of the year I want to sit back and watch. It's your show."
For more photos, go to https://bit.ly/2U5on0b .
Rainy River 39 66-105
Central Lakes 57 58-115
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RAINY RIVER
Greg Barber 9, Jesus Alfonso 3, Trey Jones 17, Cleveland Bedgood 4, Braxton Benvenuti 22, Josh Jacobs 26, Kevan Johnson 9, Cedrick Harris 15. FG 38-87 (44 percent), FT 19-29 (66 percent). 3-point 10-32 (31 percent).
CENTRAL LAKES
Chris Buckley 26, Josh Arnold 12, Malik Kelly 2, Arrion Curothers 17, Gavin Smith 17, JaQuavius Hays 8, Kelvin Harris 3, Al-Jureau Ray 17, Tyree'on Johnson 6, Shamar Hill 4, Brandon Burggraff 3. FG 38-80 (48 percent), FT 20-29 (69 percent). 3-point 19-41 (47 percent). Division: 15-1. Overall: 22-5. Next: MCAC State Tournament Friday, Mar 1.
