After two successful road games, the Central Lakes College Raiders could have experienced a letdown in Friday's Northern Division clash against the Rainy River Voyageurs.
Trailing by as much as 10 points in the second half, the Raiders clamped down on defense and came away with an 80-76 victory for their 12th-straight win.
Radamus Jones led all scorers with 28 point, and Alex Koch hit three big shots from behind the arc in the second on his way to 12 points. The Raiders shot just 39 percent for the game, but held the Voyageurs to 34-percent shooting in the second half.
"At halftime I really didn't need to yell and scream," said head coach Jim Russell. "All I needed to talk about was what we needed to do. I think we played to the hype a little in the first half, but in the second half we were a little more patient and the shots were falling because we weren't doing our own thing. It was a great college atmosphere and the fans were in it. We needed a test and we got it."
It was the fifth Northern Division win for the Raiders.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Our theme this year is to play 40 minutes and to wear people out," Russell said. "They were tired and didn't shoot the ball as well in the second half and I think that helped us."
Rainy River 46 30 - 76
Central Lakes 39 41 - 80
CENTRAL LAKES
Darsean Woodson 6, Radamus Jones 11, Jayelyn Price 6, Trey Heinsius 4, Jake Dryer 5, N'Gai Dixon 9, Davaghndre Jones 10, Alex Koch 12. FG 29-74 (39 percent), FT 14-18 (78 percent). 3-point 8-27 (30 percent). Division: 5-0. Overall: 15-3. Next: at Hibbing 3 p.m. Saturday.
RAINY RIVER
Ahmad Poche 11, Sheldon O'Neal 8, Jammere Carlisle 15, Antoine Tobias 10, Darius Johnson 5, Samuel Stirgus 19, Jimson Clerveus 6. FG 31-68 (46 percent), FT 6-15 (40 percent). 3-point 6-21 (29 percent).
