Raiders win home finale

Milos Prijovic's jumper 48 seconds in sparked a quick run for the Central Lakes Raiders, who found themselves up 12-0 before the Vermilion Ironmen could respond.

The Raiders' never surrendered their lead as they defeated the Ironmen 89-69 in their final home court appearance of the season.

Sophomore Erik Peeters led the way for the Raiders, carving up the Ironmen's defense with 22 points, including 5-for-11 from long range in his final home game as a Raider.

Raiders 89, Vermilion 69

Key: Nic Grewe scored eight points in the first four minutes as the Raiders jumped out to a 14-2 lead

Division: CLC 9-1, V 6-4

Overall: CLC 19-4, V 16-7

Next: Raiders at Northland 8 p.m. Wednesday

"It's just that as a coach you always want a threat coming off the bench," Raiders coach Jim Russell said. "And he's been a threat for us coming off the bench. He can play inside or outside. But also he's a sophomore and he's been in this kind of situation and I knew that playing against (Vermillion) it was going to be a physical game, and he's had that experience."

Since starting, Peeters has scored at least 20 points and found the shooters touch connecting on 12 3's in two games.

"The best part of it is he's mentally tough," Russell said of Peeters. "He doesn't say a word if he's not starting, he just plays and he's going to be very well missed in this program. He's always been just a very tough kid."

With Peeters earning the starting nod, Ahmed Farah provided the spark of the bench for the Raiders. With 14:05 left in the second half, Farah broke away for an uncontested dunk, capping off the Raiders 12-2 run spanning the first 6:14 of the second half. Farah accounted for 19 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes.

"We always preach that we need all 12," Russell said. "I don't need five - I need 12. And you might get a chance to be in the game and you have to show that you can do it.

"Ahmed was a starter for us for a while, and now he's coming off the bench. As a coach you're constantly trying to find ways to have kids be successful."

Having lost just four games this season and currently sitting tied atop the North Division, Russell has been the mastermind behind the Raiders success.

"He's won a lot of games and he knows what it takes to win," Peeters said of Russell, "and if we do what he tells us to do we're going to be successful."

Peeters and the Raiders will take that mentality on the road as they finish the season on a four-game road trip, beginning with an opportunity to sit atop the division alone if they can defeat Northland Wednesday night.

"Yeah, It's a long stretch if you look at it that way, but we're going to take it one game at a time that we can play," Russell said.

Prijovic finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in his home finale for the Raiders.

With Saturday's win, the Raiders finish with an 11-1 home record.

"It's huge," Russell said of the win. "One - it shows that we can play through adversity and we did that. And two - we have to take care of home. We're in a race for the division title and we're not here to be second. We're here to win it."

Vermilion 38 31 - 69

Central Lakes 45 44 - 89

VERMILION

Anthony Brant 17, Venzal Russell 16, Jordan Osberg 11, Joey Offerdahl 10, Robert Rogers 7, Brian Shurn 3, Trapper Goltz 3, Walter Willis 2. FG 24-68 (35 percent), FT 13-17 (77 percent), Three-point baskets: 8 (Brant 5, Offerdahl 2, Osberg).

CENTRAL LAKES

Marcus Ayala 16, Nash Faulk 2, Erik Peeters 22, Yasin Jama 10, Cody Hofmann 1, Ahmed Farah 18, Nick Grewe 12, Milos Prijovic 8. FG 30-63 (48 percent), FT 22-31 (71 percent), Three-point baskets: 7 (Peeters 5, Grewe 2).