The Bemidji Lumberjacks boys basketball team overcame a woeful start Tuesday night to top Grand Forks Central 74-51 at the Fieldhouse.
The attraction drew around 600 fans who witnessed Jacks fall behind by 13 late in the first half to a team that had won only once all winter.
But the Jacks closed the half with a 13-point run to tie the score and opened the second half with another seven before the Knights finally found the basket.
But another nine-point run followed to raise the Jacks' string to 29-2 and put the game away.
Before the night ended, Coach Jeff Brown had sent all 14 players onto the court.
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For 14 minutes, it looked as if the upset of the year was in store.
For the Knights came out shooting, finding the range from long range and moved ahead 13-4.
Bemidji fought back behind the Woods brothers and Ryan Rude to climb within 15-13.
And down 30-17 with four minutes to play, Bemidji came alive and launched a 13-point run including treys by the Woods brothers to knot the count at 30-30 in the closing seconds.
After a fireside chat at intermission. Bemidji came out as it left, running home the first seven points to extend the string to 20 before yielding a bucket.
But another run of nine upped the margin to 46-32 and all but ended matters.
Central never scored more than four points in a row until the Jacks went deep to the bench when the Knights hit an 8-2 streak to climb within 66-49.
But the reserves ran the next six to reclaim total control and win going away.
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The win lifted the Jacks to 15-7 going into Saturday's matinee at BSU with Grand Rapids. The Hawks won the first meeting at Grand Rapids 80-73.
Bemidji held a 29-28 lead off the boards with the Woods and Rude each claiming six. Center Ben Lofgren had nine for Central.
Brady Johnson led the losers with 19 points, 13 in the first half, Lofgren had 15, all but two after the break.
Czar Woods led Bemidji with 21, Carey hit 15 and Rude 13 to all but outscore the Knights themselves.
The Jacks forced 22 turnovers which led to a number of easy baskets. Bemidji had only eight.
"We had a good halftime talk," said Brown. "I told them to just keep doing what they had done the final four minutes of the half and everything would be all right. They did and we won handily."
The B and C Teams split.
The B Team started fast but was unable to keep up with a team that had 11 varsity squad players on the court.
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The Knights took a 25-17 halftime lead and won 63-48.
J.C. Cervenka had 19 to lead Bemidji. The B Team fell to 14-8.
The frosh rose to 5-12 with a 45-38 decision. Dion Fairbanks hit 10 to lead 11 Bemidji players n the scoring column.
BEMIDJI (74) Rude 6 1-2 1 13; Frost 1 0-2 2 2; Richardson 0 0-0 1 0; Czar Woods 6 6-6 4 21; Carey Woods 6 2-2 2 16; Kroening 1 2-4 1 5; Brown 2 2-2 2 5; Rutledge 1 1-2 2 3; Hengel 1 0-0 0 3; Declusin 0 0-0 0 0; Cervenka 1 0-0 0 2; Sullivan 0 0-0 0 0; Hendricks 0 0-0 0 0;Totals:26 14-20 15 75
GRAND FORKS CENTRQL (51) Jaeger 3 1-1 4 7; Lajimodier 1 1-2 4 4; Lofgren 7 1-2 1 15; Muz 1 0-0 0 3; Johnson 6 2-4 3 18; Yaeger 1 0-2 4 2; Bushaw 1 0-2 2 2; Totals: 20 6-11 18 51
Halftime score; Bemidji 30, GFC 30
Three point field goals; Bemidji 8 (Czar Woods 3 Carey Woods 2, Kroening, Brown, Hengel); GFC 5 (Johnson 3, Lajimodier, Muz)
Rebounds: Bemidji 29. GFC 28
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Turnovers: Bemidji 8, GFC 22
Officials John Olson and Bob Meyer- - - - -
BEMIDJI B (48) Cervenka 10. Sullivan 8, Declusin 8, Hengel 6, Hendricks 4, Baker 4 Rutledge 2, Bellew 2, Vonasek 1, Fraley 1. Berndt, Fodness 0
GRAND FORKS CENTRAL (63) Chaske 23, Satterfield 14, Smith 8, Parson 6., Norton 6, Carlson 4
Halftime score; GFC 25, Bemidji 17
Three point field goals: Bemidji 1-Baker; GFC none
Rebounds; Bemidji 35, GFC 39
Turnovers: Bemidji 17, GHC 23
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Officials Meyer and Olson
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BEMIDJI C (45) Fairbanks 10, Baumgartner 8, Hovila 6., Seado 5, Kroening 5, Huseby 4, Leinen 3, Sommer 2, Cermak 1, Kovach, Spangler 0
GFC (38) Individual scoring unavailable
Halftime score; Bemidji 22, GFC 19
