Esko Girls Top Hermantown To Set Up Battle Of Unbeatens Against Barnum

Wes Vork-NSO

For Additional Photos Click Here To View Our Complete Photo Gallery

Jan 24

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Esko Eskomos improved to 15-0 on the season Monday night as the Eskomos knocked off the Hermantown Hawks by a score of 56-35. The Eskomos led at halftime 31-9, a lead that was too big for the Hawks to overcome.

Esko jumped out to a very fast 13-0 lead in the first half, the Hawks were reeling so Hermantown Head Coach Beth Clark called timeout to stop the Eskomos run. Following the time out it was still Esko as they continued to pour it on, starting the game with a 23-0 lead before Nicole Kucza scored with two free throws and 9:34 remaining in the first half.

Esko continued to roll as they played good defense holding the Hawks without a field goal until almost six minutes remaining in the first half when Mary Neumann nailed down a three-pointer which cut the Esko lead to 25-5. Esko closed out the first half on a 6-4 run that gave them the twenty-two point lead at the break.

The second half was a closer contest but with the lead to big to overcome it was the Eskomos going on to the non-conference win. The win sets up a meeting Thursday night with the Barnum Bombers, the top team in Class A comes to Esko. The Polar League Champion has come from this game the last seven seasons and it could happen again on Thursday night.

The Eskomos were led in scoring by Keely Deadrick as she had 21 points including two three-pointers. Savanna Trapp added 18 points to go along with 9 blocks and 6 rebounds. Lydia Pelletier added 7 points, Alyson Glumac and Megan Reuer each added 4, and Bailey Mudek finished with 2 points for Esko.

Hermantown was led by Mary Neumann who finished with 20 points, Nicole Kucza added 6, Rachel Hoium chipped in with 5, and Carmen Bergstedt and Emily Neumann rounded out the scoring with 2 points on the night.

In what should be a dandy matchup, the 15-0 Eskomos will host the 17-0 defending Class A State Champion Barnum Bombers. Esko Head Coach Scott Antonutti is looking for a highly competitive game. “We expect a hard fought game with a lot of aggressive defense. We will need to take care of the ball to put up a challenge.” “ “Limiting their 3 point shooting, which has been very hot recently, will also be a big factor in the game,” Added Antonutti.

The Hawks fall to 11-6 overall and they are in action again on Friday night in a Lake Superior Conference contest at Cloquet.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com