Northfield Sweeps Faribault in Hoops For Hope Night

The Northfield Raider boys and girls basketball teams swept the Faribault Falcons at Nomeland Gym on Tuesday night during a special doubleheader.

It was Hoops For Hope night and the Northfield Pep Band joined the Faribault Pep Band in pumping up an excellent Tuesday night crowd.

The night was dedicated to raising money to fight cancer, which ultimately took the life of Mike Morrissey on November 30.

A special highlight video honoring the former KDHL sports director was played at halftime, and it was nice to see so many people stick around and watch and listen to the video instead of leaving to get refreshments.

Troy Temple of Temple Video Productions did a terrific job on the highlights.

It was great to hear Mike's golden tones again and brought back some memories for me.

The boys game was first, and maybe the early start was harder for Faribault to adjust to than Northfield because it sure looked like it.

Northfield totally dominated the interior and ran away from Faribault 57-34.

The Raiders led 35-12 at the half and never looked back.

KDHL statistics had Northfield with 34 points in the paint compared to 10 for Faribault.

Not a single Falcon scored in double figures and Faribault's six-game winning streak was snapped in convincing fashion.

Northfield was led by 6-foot-3 junior Hunter Koep with 17 points, 6-foot-9 senior Luke Harris tallied 15 and 6-foot-3 junior Nicolas Zabel had 10.

Raider head coach Andy Berkvam told KDHL before our broadcast he wanted his team to dominate the paint.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance Agents Faribault player of the game was 5-foot-10 sophomore Joe Jackson, who led Faribault with eight points.

Senior Brady Combs had six and junior Kade Hart also had six points.

The Falcons had six threes in the game and six two-point baskets.

Faribault is 8-5 overall and 6-4 in the Big Nine and hosts John Marshall on Friday while Northfield is 6-5 in the conference and 9-6 overall and is at Rochester Mayo on Friday.

The girls game was much more competitive, with Faribault leading 23-19 at the half before succumbing 49-38.

The Falcons controlled the tempo and then had one of those stretches early in the second half where they had trouble scoring.

Five-foot-8 sophomore guard Grace Touchette was impressive for Northfield, scoring 19 points. She was the only player in the game to score in double figures.

Five-foot-9 junior Kayla Kidd added eight (all in the second half) and 5-foot-9 senior Elizabeth Schwartz added eight points off the bench.

Faribault was led by 6-foot junior Elana Palmer and 5-foot-5 senior Jenna Wetzel with nine points each, and 5-foot-8 sophomore Breanna Bresnahan added six points on two three-pointers.

Palmer fouled out with 5:17 to go in the game and the Falcons still in it.

Our Faribault State Farm Agents Falcons of the game were Bresnahan for holding Kidd scoreless in the first half and Wetzel for connecting on three threes in the contest.

Faribault had just five field goals in the second half. Two three-pointers and three regular field goals.

The Falcons fall to 6-7 overall and 3-7 in the Big Nine and Northfield is 6-4 in the league and 7-6 overall.

The Raiders have a five-game winning streak.

Faribault is at Albert Lea on Saturday night and Northfield hosts Big Nine-leading Rochester Mayo on Friday night.

Thanks to all who came out and helped raise money to defeat cancer. The disease has taken too many good people away from us.

Northfield and Faribault during Hoops For Hope night at Nomeland Gym.