Cloquet Girls Survive Comeback For 51-36 Win

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Jan 31

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

PROCTOR- Annabel Morrisroe knocked down twenty-three points Monday night as the Lumberjacks survived a second half comeback to take down the Proctor Rails by a score of 51-36. Morrisroe led all scorers on the night as well as leading every player in rebounding with 13; she also contributed with three steals on the night.

Cloquet jumped out to a quick lead using pressure in Proctor’s back court, which set up several turnovers that led to easy baskets for the Lumberjacks. The Lumberjacks continued the pressure defensively and held the Rails to only two free throws in the first eight minutes of the game. Jamie Polaski scored the first field goal of the first half with 10:05 remaining before the break. Cloquet continued with the pressure as they took a 27-8 lead into the locker room at half.

“We needed a good game tonight,” Head Coach Jeff Ojanen told Northland Sports Online. Before the game Ojanen told NSO “We need to be hitting right on all sides tonight.” The Lumberjacks had lost five straight heading into Monday Night’s contest, while Proctor had won two straight and had scored more than sixty points in a game for the first time since 2007.

The Rails came out swinging in the second half, playing out of desperation trailing by nineteen at halftime they battled their way back into the contest, closing the gap to four points at 38-34 late in the second half. The lumberjacks took a timeout and then would break Proctor’s pressure and scored several easy baskets over the last few minutes.

“We waited too long to get started” Head coach Teresa Nyberg told Northland Sports Online. “Cloquet did a good job in that first half of forcing us to turn the ball over.” Nyberg added “we did a great job in the second half but we ran out of gas.” With the loss, the Rails with the loss fall to 3-13 overall and Cloquet improves to 6-13 overall.

Cloquet was led in scoring by Annabel Morrisroe with 23 points, Kenzie Rathe added 7, Krista Schmitz and Sarah McMillen each finished with 6, Carri Zeadow and Shania Paulson both had 3, Felicia Hraban scored 2, and Avery Bieri added 1 point in the Lumberjack win. Cloquet is back in action on Friday when they face Duluth Marshall at Marshall High School in Duluth.

The Rails were led by Aubrey Knox who finished with 9 points, Kyra Harty added 8, Haylee Cloutier finished with 6, Cassie Ericson scored 4 points, Polaski ended with 3, Lindsey Verhel, Joelle Bolos, and Micayla Westendorf all closed out with 2 points each for Proctor. The Rails are back in action on Friday when they will play at Superior.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com

Contributed Photo