The Northfield Raiders came to Faribault tonight determined to go home with a win in both the boys and girls basketball games and they did.

The boys game was first and became a yawner about midway through the first half.

At the half it was Raiders 45 and Falcons 19.

Northfield won 71-40 thanks in large part of a tenacious 1-2-2 trap with size at the top that rattled the Falcons to turn the ball over with regularity.

Faribault had 20 turnovers in the game and Northfield 10.

The Raiders not only have size among their starters but size coming off the bench.

6'6 Northfield junior Mason Zick led all scorers with 21 points and 6'5 junior Mitchell Stanchina added 10 for the very balanced Raider attack.

The Falcons were led by 6'3 junior Joe Palmer with 20 points.

The girls game was a thriller with neither team able to get a double digit lead.  Faribault led the first half of the first half but Northfield led at the half 18-15.

The Raiders led most of the second half but Faribault did take a lead with just over three minutes to go.

Four successive turnovers spelled doom for the Falcons in the 32-29 loss.

The Northfield girls also have a lot of size on their team.

The girls can play the 1-2-2 trap also with 6'1 junior Emma Carlson at the top causing problems for small guards to get accurate passes off.

There were a number of times in the game where 5'3 Rachel Hanson was guarding 6'3 Annika Hoff in the post or 5'7 Grace Amacher was also attempting to guard a six footer.

The Minnesota Basketball News latest rankings came out today and Northfield is ranked #7 and Faribault #17 in Class 3A.

The Raider starting lineup is 6'1, 6'3, 6'0, 5'9 and 5'8.  The Falcons were 5'3, 5'7, 6'0, 5'10 and 5'10.

I have a feeling neither Faribault Coach Bill Bardal or Northfield Coach Tony Mathison was too excited about the turnovers in the game.

Northfield had 16 and Faribault 15.

The difference in the game was the free throw line with the Raiders going 8 for 14 and the Falcons not shooting a single free throw in the game.

5'7 senior Gracy Touchette was the only Raider in double figures with 11 points and 5'7 senior Grace Amacher the only Falcon in double figures with 14 points in the defensive minded game.

Faribault is now 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Nine.

Northfield is 3-0 in the Big Nine and overall.

The Falcons had five three point baskets in the game.  Two by Amacher, one by Hanson, one by Lauren Isaacson and one by Bre Bresnahan.

Northfield hosts Owatonna while Faribault travels to Winona Tuesday.

The Falcon game will be on Power 96 Radio beginning 7:15 that night.

Northfield 6'3 Annika Hoff defended by 5'7 Grace Amacher and 6'0 freshman Bennett Wolff. photo by Jim Wellbrock of Northfield
Northfield 6'3 Annika Hoff defended by 5'7 Grace Amacher and 6'0 freshman Bennett Wolff. photo by Jim Wellbrock of Northfield
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Northfield 6'5 junior Mitchell Stanchina drives to basket. Photo by Jim Wellbrock of Northfield
Northfield 6'5 junior Mitchell Stanchina drives to basket. Photo by Jim Wellbrock of Northfield
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