Last Thursday, the Becker Bulldog boys basketball team traveled to Chisago Lakes and put together a total team effort en route to a 75-58 victory.

“Against Chisago Lakes we were able to have a great night creating turnovers and getting the ball into the paint,” said Coach Josh Ihrke. “We came away with our highest shooting percentage of the year.”

Becker held a 42-16 advantage in points scored on the inside and those close shots translated into an overall 71% success rate on two-point shots, while the team also hit eight of 25 attempts from three-point range.

Becker also forced 21 Wildcat turnovers and turned those takeaways into 24 points, including 16 scored in transition.

Becker had four players score in double figures, led by Junior Alex Weiss who scored 16.

“Alex led the way with a highly effective night,” Ihrke said. “He got to the rim and finished well as he came away with 16 points and a high value for the team.”

Joining Weiss in double figures were Julias Hendricks and Eric Seavert with 15 points apiece and Brady Paumen with 12 points to go along with 13 rebounds.

Overall, Ihrke was happy with how his team responded after losing the previous game.

“This game was a nice response to the loss over the holiday break,” the coach said. “We played good team basketball.”

Becker scoring: Weiss 16, Nick Berglund seven (four assists), Hendricks 15, Hayden Harmoning five (five rebounds, six assists), Seavert 15 (seven assists), Paumen 12, and Carter Callahan five (three assists).

Cardinals

Last Friday, the team hosted the Annandale Cardinals and had a rough first half, trailing 43-29 at the break before dropping the contest 82-71. Becker played with better determination in the second half, but the Cardinal lead was too much to overcome.

The Bulldogs hit just seven of 28 shots from beyond the arc, while the Cardinals were a very efficient 9-for-15 from long range.  Both teams spent a considerable amount of time at the free throw line, with Becker hitting 16 of 23 attempts and the Cardinals going 17-for-27. A total of 43 fouls were whistled in the game.

Eric Seavert had a nice offensive performance for Becker with 24 points in 40 minutes of action.

Becker scoring: Weiss nine (six rebounds), Berglund 10, Hendricks 10, Harmoning two, Seavert 24, Paumen 15 (12 rebounds), and Callahan one. 

Vikings

Tuesday night, the Bulldogs went on the road to North Branch and went ice cold in the second half, losing 75-53. The game was tied at 33 going into halftime, but the Vikings came out in the second half and made their shots en route to 42 second half points, while the Bulldogs could manage just 20. The Vikings made 15 field goals in the second stanza, while Becker hit just seven.

Becker scoring: Weiss four, Berglund two, Hendricks 10, Harmoning eight, Seavert 13, Paumen 13, Callahan two, Landen Goebel one.

Thursday night, the Bulldogs hosted the Cambridge-Isanti Bluejackets, while Tuesday night the Bemidji Lumberjacks come to town.