Jamie Glenn/Daily Mining Gazette Baraga’s Steele Jondreau drives around Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Carter Crouch during a game Monday at the Lake Linden-Hubbell Gym.

LAKE LINDEN — The Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes beat the visiting Baraga Vikings in a Copper Country Conference boys basketball match on Monday with strong offense for the first half, against a young Baraga team. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lakes earned the 73-27 victory,

Lake Linden held the Vikings to 21 points in the first, most were made at the free throw line.

The Lakes hit the floor hard in the first half with 20 points scored in the first quarter and 22 in the second to put the game out of reach.

“I thought we came out fast,” said Lakes coach Jack Kumpula. “We took control of the game early (by) getting some things going (and) establishing a little lead in the first quarter. I thought that was big for us to come out and get that.”

The Lakes tilted the floor in their favor in the first half, got inside the paint and threw up smart three-pointers. The only real negative for Kumpula was the fact that his team did accumulate 10 fouls in the first 16 minutes of play and nine in the second half. That is something that Kumpula would like to see his team improve on.

“We got our fast break going and were able to get up the floor and get some easy buckets and extend our lead,” he said. “That was two good first quarters that we had at the half. I think our key was our defense allowing us to get out and run a fast break on the offense.”

“We’ve got to work on our defense,” said Kumpula. “We followed way too much. They were on the free throw line the whole night. We’ve got to be better on that.

“Offensively, we moved the ball really well against their zone. We were able to get the ball inside and work the back side. I was very happy with the way we moved the ball.”

Lakes juniors Carter Crouch and Cole and Caleb Gregoire lead their team to victory with a combined 46 points scored between the three of them.

“When those three kids are going, Carter, Cole and Caleb, then things are going well for us, so I’m very happy with their start, overall,” said Kumpula.

On the Vikings side sophomore Steele Jondreau was working hard both defensively and offensively throughout the night. He led the Vikings side with 13 points.

“He’s an aggressive player,” said Vikings coach Chris Loonsfoot. “We can count on him to get to the whole and get a shot for us, if we need a shot off.”

Loonsfoot knew facing the Lakes this early in the season with such a young squad was going to be a tall task.

“They shot the ball pretty (well), said Loonsfoot. “My boys are sophomores (and) we played like sophomores for half of the game. (In the) other half we did some good things. We’re getting better every game. That’s all I can ask for.”

The Vikings are not where Loonsfoot would like them to be but he is happy to see them improving with each game.

“I want to work on taking care of the ball,” said Loonsfoot. “It’s hard to win a game when you have as many turnovers as you do points.

“My boys almost had a lead there in the first quarter. That’s a spot that we haven’t been in too often, so they get excited and our fans get into it. Every game feels like a home game when we get a little lead. We’re learning how to win yet.”

Lake Linden will host Watersmeet on Thursday at 7:20 p.m. Baraga will host Chassell at 7:20 p.m.

Baraga 9 12 6 10 – 37

Lake Linden 20 22 15 16 – 73

BAR: S. Jondreau 13, Holmquist 4, Rasanen 6, Smith 2, W. Jondreau 4, Sackett 8; Fouls: 9; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: S. Jondreau 1, Rasanen 1, Sackett 1

LLH: Wickstrom-Huuki, Crouch 19, Lyons 5, Ca. Gregoire 14, Co. Gregoire 13, Wilson 8, K. Simpson 4, E. Simpson 2; Fouls: 19; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Crouch 5, Ca. Gregoire 2, Co. Gregoire 2, Lyons 1