RED LAKE COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL BEATS SACRED HEART TO STAY UNDEFEATED

The Red Lake County Rebels made timely shots and played solid defense as they beat the Sacred Heart Eagles 79-70 in a batlle of the last two undefeated teams in Section 8A Boys Basketball in a game played in East Grand Forks. 

FIRST HALF-
In a highly anticipated match-up of the only undefeated teams left in Section 8A, the first half didn’t disappoint the fans as Red Lake County and Sacred Heart put on a show. The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the teams were tied at 2, 12, 15, and 19. Sacred Heart took a 22-21 lead on a Parker Erickson three-pointer, only to have Red Lake County respond with eight straight points. Owen Chervestad and Ethan Majeres made three-pointers, and Chervestad added a steal for a layup for a 29-22 lead with 5:30 left in the half.
Sacred Heart battled back with four points from Greg Downs in the paint and a steal for a layup from Mike Gapp to bring the Eagles within a 30-28 deficit. Red Lake County bounced back with a Duden three-pointer and a basket by Luke Peterson for a 35-28 lead. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes, and Red Lake County took a 38-32 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Red Lake County started the second half with a Gunnar Halvorson basket, and after a pair of Sacred free throws, Will Gieseke and Chervestad answered with baskets for a 44-34 lead. The 10-point lead was the first double-digit lead of the game for the Rebels. Sacred Heart got within a 53-44 deficit after a Mike Gapp basket, but Red Lake County responded with five points from Duden and a three-pointer from Majeres for a 61-44 lead with 8:34 left in the game. Sacred Heart battled back with a 7-0 run with baskets from Greg Downs and Parker Erickson and a three-pointer from Gapp to get within a 61-51 deficit. Red Lake County responded with five straight points behind a Chervestad basket and a three-pointer from John Powers for a 66-67 lead. The back-and-forth battle continued as Sacred Heart scored the next seven points with a Gapp three-pointer and an Isaac Ortiz three-point play before an Erickson free throw and the Eagles trailed 66-58 with five minutes remaining. Red Lake County’s Powers stopped the Eagle run with another three-pointer and after a Sacred Heart basket, Powers buried another three for a 72-60 lead. Red Lake County held on in the final minutes of the game and earned a hard-fought 79-70 victory.

Red Lake County improves to 7-0 on the year. Sacred Heart drops to 6-1 on the season. 
J.V. – Sacred Heart won 66-45

CLICK HERE for Red Lake County Coach Steve Philion’s post-game comments.

For Sacred Heart Coach Destry Sterkel’s post-game comments, CLICK HERE.