Thiel scores 20 but Perham falls 65-56 to Pequot Lakes

Perham’s boys basketball team fell 65-56 to visiting Pequot Lakes on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, dropping its third straight game and slipping to a 6-7 record. The loss came after Perham led by seven points at halftime but was outscored in the second half as Pequot Lakes closed the gap and took control.

Cypress Thiel paced Perham with 20 points and hit three 3-pointers to keep the home team competitive. Nathan Rustad added 11 points and Isaiah Farrell finished with nine for Perham. Despite the balanced scoring, Perham was unable to sustain its first-half momentum and conceded a decisive run after the break.

The halftime lead underlined Perham’s ability to execute offensively early, but second-half adjustments by Pequot Lakes and defensive breakdowns for Perham shifted the game's trajectory. Falling to 6-7 on the season tightens the margin for error in the remainder of the regular season and increases the importance of upcoming conference matchups for postseason positioning.

For the Perham community, the defeat has both athletic and civic implications. Local high school sports draw substantial attendance and community support in Otter Tail County, and a string of losses can affect booster morale, student-athlete confidence, and youth enrollment in feeder programs. Coaches and athletic directors will need to evaluate rotation choices and defensive schemes to halt the skid and restore momentum ahead of crucial games.

Perham is scheduled to play Breckenridge on Jan. 20, a game that offers an immediate chance to respond. How the team adjusts on both ends of the court will signal whether this stretch is a temporary setback or the start of a more prolonged slide. Attendance and fan support at the next home game could also factor into the team’s ability to regain its footing.

As the season progresses, Perham’s ability to convert halftime leads into full-game wins will be a central storyline for local fans and school officials tracking playoff prospects. The coming weeks will reveal whether the team can translate individual performances like Thiel’s into consistent team results and reassert itself in the district race.