Lumberjacks Outshoot Eskomos In Cloquet

Wes Vork-NSO

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Feb 15

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

CLOQUET- It has been a few years since the Esko boys basketball team has defeated the Lumberjacks, and this year with Cloquet boys struggling to find their identity as a team it seemed as if the Eskomos would end the two season win streak by the Lumberjacks. That however did not happen as Cloquet knocked off the Eskomos by a final score of 57-47 as Cloquet wins their fifth game of the season.

Cloquet scored the first basket of the game on an Andy Wappes shot inside and the Lumberjacks not knowing at the time would never trail as they went on to the huge win at home. Cloquet played outstanding defense on the Eskomos, getting a hand in the face of every Eskomo shooter and forcing the Eskomos out of their natural rhythm. Esko shot just 17% from the floor in the first half where as Cloquet shot 47% in the first half.

Cloquet played well on offense during the entire game, not turning the ball over as much as in past games. The Lumberjacks turned the ball over only 15 times for the game while Esko only had seven turnovers for the contest. The Lumberjacks took a nine point 22-13 point lead into the locker at halftime. Esko, who had comeback several times this season after trailing at half needed a quick start to the second half.

Esko came out firing in the second half and cut the Lumberjack lead to two points at 25-23. The 10-3 run however was going to be as close as the Eskomos could come Tuesday night. The Lumberjacks responded unlike they have all year, going on a 30-12 run over the next ten minutes to build a 55-35 lead with three and a half minutes remaining. The twenty point margin was too much to overcome for the Eskomos as they fall for only the third time this season.

The Lumberjacks were led by seniors Andy Wappes and Dane Kiehn who finished with 23 and 21 points respectively. Wappes’ game high followed his performance last season when these two teams met at Esko where he finished with a game high 26 points. Wappes and Kiehn each nabbed 12 rebounds in the Lumberjack win. Dillon Johnson followed up the scoring with 6 points, Zach Peterson added 3, Sean Ferrell and Trent Moe each finished with 2 points

Esko was led by Marc Peterson who finished with 17 points including five three-pointers. Adam Eskuri finished with 12 points and added two three-pointers, Jackson Lindquist added 8, Jake Stainbrook scored 6, and Jared Harms ended with 4 points for Esko.

The Lumberjacks improve to 5-16 on the season and they are in action again on Saturday when they face the Two Harbors Agates up the shore at Two Harbors. The Eskomos fall to 16-3 on the season and they have another tough battle on Thursday when they host the state ranked Duluth East Greyhounds at Esko High School.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com