Cloquet Boys Win Second Straight Game

Feb 21

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cloquet boys basketball team picked up their second consecutive win on Saturday night as they knocked off the Two Harbors Agates by a score of 70-51. The Lumberjacks used their inside game as Andrew Wappes, Dane Kiehn, and Adam Laine combine for 48 of the teams 70 total points on the night.

Both teams battled each other in the first half, with both teams taking small leads while the other would respond. Dillon Johnson nailed the first basket of the game on a three-pointer as it took both teams over three and a half minutes to put points on the board. Each team then carried leads in the first half with the Agates 17-13 being their largest lead of the game.

The Lumberjacks came back and when Adam Laine had a put-back of a missed Andrew Wappes shot he gave the Lumberjacks a lead they would never relinquish again. Dane Kiehn scored as time expired in the first half to give the Lumberjacks a 28-22 lead at halftime. Cloquet came out in the second half and quickly built the lead up to eight points. Agate senior guard Jon McDannold kept the Agates close by hitting shots from the outside.

With Cloquet leading 38-37, Cloquet went on a 32-14 run to close out the game with a 19 point win and confidence moving ahead. “Wins builds confidence” head coach Steve Battaglia told Northland Sports Online. “We are doing things better each and every game” Battaglia added. “Whop and Dane have been doing a good job inside for us and the hard work is showing.”

The Lumberjacks were led Saturday by freshman Adam Laine who had 19 points. He was followed by Wappes, who ended with 17, and Dane Kiehn with12. Dillon Johnson and Zach Peterson each pounded in 8 points, Trent Moe finished with 3, Cody Stevens scored 2, and Sean Ferrell chipped in with 1. Jon McDannold of Two Harbors led all scorers with 24 points on the night including five three-pointers.

Cloquet improves to 6-16 on the season and they will take on Duluth Marshall on Tuesday night at Marshall high school. The Agates fall to 1-20 on the season and they will face Carlton on Tuesday night at Carlton High School.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com