Head coach Jon Dale's Patriots beat host Pine River-Backus 76-60 on Tuesday, Jan. 26. Pequot Lakes then led the entire game in beating Hibbing 69-51 at home on Thursday, Jan. 28. Finally, the Patriots didn't shoot well and had turnover problems in a 53-51 loss to host Staples-Motley in Mid-State Conference play on Friday, Jan. 29.

The Patriots have two important home games this week - against a Class AAAA ranked Bemidji squad, and its outstanding player Kayla Hint, on Thursday, Feb. 4, and then Mid-State rival Detroit Lakes on Saturday, Feb. 6.

"We can control our own destiny in the Mid-State as we still have a one game lead after Detroit Lakes beat Crosby-Ironton," said Coach Dale, whose squad is 6-1 in conference play. "We play both DL and C-I here and the other conference game at Wadena-Deer Creek."

Patriots 76, PR-Backus 60

On Jan. 26, the Patriots' scoring balance proved to be too much for the Tigers, who dropped to 13-5 overall.

"We made 26 turnovers and they turned a lot of them into baskets," said PR-B coach Randy Schwegel, whose team trailed 40-28 at halftime.

The Patriots were led by Emily Lueck with 19 points, Kylie Beltz and Katelyn Schmidt, who hit four three pointers, with 14 each. Kayla Wangen and Mattie Lueck each had seven points Kendra Johnson added six, Kirsten Noska five and Sarah Thomas four for the Patriots.

Autumn Ackerman paced the Tigers with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Katie Wangberg had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Tatum Sheley had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams shot well from the floor as the Patriots were 31 for 60 (52 percent) and the Tigers were 28 for 55 (55 percent). At the line, the Patriots made 8 of 14 (57 percent) and PR-B hit 3 of 7 (43 percent).

Patriots 69, Hibbing 51

On Jan. 28, Emily Lueck hit four three pointers on her way to scoring 18 points and also grabbing 13 rebounds in a convincing win over the Class AAA Bluejackets.

The game was tied twice in the first half before Pequot Lakes assumed a 33-25 lead at intermission.

The Patriots opened the second half with an 8-0 run with the Emily Lueck eventually hitting another three-point basket to give her team a 41-25 lead just three minutes into the second half. The Patriots continued to pull away after that and led by as many as 26 points before Hibbing got the last eight points of the game.

Beltz and Mattie Lueck each had 12 ponits, Kirsten Noska added 10, Schmidt eight, Kayla Wangen six and Kendra Johnson three.

Staples-Motley 53, Patriots 51

On Jan. 29, the Cardinals handed the Patriots their first Mid-State loss. The loss avenged Pequot Lakes' 62-45 home win earlier this season against S-M, which is 5-2 in the conference and 12-4 overall.

The Patriots never led in the first half and trailed 30-22 at the break.

Pequot Lakes battled back in the second half and cut the deficit to 38-36 after baskets by Mattie and Emily Lueck with 11:00 left. But Caitlyn Robinson hit a three-pointer and Abby Smith a 15-foot basket to give the Cardinals a 43-36 lead.

S-M later led 50-42 with less than two minutes remaining when the Patriots mounted a comeback. Two free throws by Mattie Lueck, a layup by Emily Lueck, and a rebound basket by Beltz pulled the Patriots to within 50-48 with 39 seconds remaining.

The Cardinals' Ashley Lisson then added a free throw, and Nikki Pemrson made two free throws for the Cardinals. Beltz hit a three-pointer in the final seconds, but Pequot Lakes fell two points short.

Mattie Lueck had a big night with 20 points and Emily Lueck had 16. The next top scorer was Kendra Johnson and Beltz with four each. Both Pearson and Robinson had 18 points for S-M.