Vikings dine on Devils ‘n ‘Dogs at Valhalla

By B.L. Azure

CHARLO — The Charlo Vikings used their abundant height to their advantage in picking up a pair of wins in this past week’s hoop wars. Friday, the Vikings added another “W" in their District 14-C ledger with a five-point victory over the never-slouches Noxon Red Devils. Then on Saturday Charlo sent Rez rival Mission Bulldogs of District 7-B back across Dublin Gulch with a non-conference loss. The Vikings are now 4-2 in 14-C and 7-5 overall.

Charlo 51, Noxon 46
With all things being equal in three of the four quarters in the 14-C conference battle for second place between the Vikings and the Red Devils the first quarter five-point lead established by Charlo proved to be the difference.

Charlo outscored the Red Devils 12-7 in the first quarter and protected the lead by matching Noxon’s offensive output in the remaining quarters. Both teams scored 17 points in the second quarter and Charlo led 29-24 at the half. It was a 13-13 third quarter and a 9-9 fourth and it added up to 51-46 Charlo victory.

Viking Josh Sharbono led Charlo with 10 points and Chance Firestone had eight.

The victory put Charlo a half game up on third place Noxon and they are two games behind conference leader Superior. The victory also balanced the regular season books with Noxon who beat Charlo in the second game of the season.

Red Devil Cody Linderman led Noxon with 17 points and Jason Allen had 10.

The loss put Noxon’s 14-C record at 3-2 and 5-6 overall.

Charlo 81, St. Ignatius 27
The Vikings were not kind to animals Saturday, in particular the struggling Bulldogs of Mission who they beat by 24 points at home. This is definitely a down year for the Mission Bulldogs who have a new coach, James Lozeau, at the helm of a young and inexperienced team. The team and the coach are getting lessons in the School of Hard Knocks this season. They will be better for it in the long run if they are taking notes and making adjustments accordingly.

The Vikings choogled out to a 17-6 first quarter lead and kept on chooglin’ the remainder of the game. They outscored Mission by 16 (26-10) in the second quarter and took a 43-16 lead into the lockers at the half.

It was more of the same with interest in the second half as the Vikings went on a 24-9 third quarter run followed by a 14-2 fourth that added up to the 81-27 victory for Charlo.

Viking Clay Hoyt led Charlo with 22 points; Houston Blevins had 14 and Kolton Andrews 10.

Bulldog Jorren Gies led Mission with eight points; Riley Charlo had seven and Jake Durglo six points.

• The Vikings (4-2, 7-5) play at Two Eagle River (2-3, 3-8) Friday, Jan. 30 and host Hot Springs (3-7) Saturday, Jan. 31.