Esko Boys Advance With 75-64 Win Over Mora

Click here for the complete game box score

Mar 10, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

UMD- When the Esko Eskomos and the Mora Mustangs met at the end of January, it was the Eskomos who rolled to a 40 point 79-39 point win, many though it might be the same thing for Esko in the second meeting with some seeing it more of a tune-up game going forward. As the number one seeded team, no one told Mora they weren’t supposed to win. The two teams fought all afternoon long, but in the end the Eskomos success from the outside and free throws down the stretch saw the Eskomos come away with the 75-64 quarterfinal win over the Mustangs.

Esko and Mora battled away early in the first half with neither team taking firm control, until, with Mora leading 13-12, Esko started connecting form the outside as both Casey Staniger and Jackson Lindquist connected from long range. Staniger hit five 3-pointers in the first half and Lindquist connected from everywhere else, creating an eleven point 42-31 lead at halftime for the Eskomos. The second half saw the Eskomos jump out fast as Jared Harms hit inside twice to start the half and Lindquist connected on two free throws, creating a 15 point 48-33 lead for Esko.

Following a timeout, it was the Mustangs who scored the next eight points as they cut the Esko lead to seven at 48-41 before Staniger ended the run with a field goal to give Esko a 50-41 lead. Lindquist then took over as he scored Esko’s next 14 points. As time was running down it was the Mustangs who were forced to foul and the Eskomos would connect from the free throw line as the Eskomos pulled away with the 11 point win Saturday afternoon at UMD.

Esko was led by Jackson Lindquist, who finished with 32 points on the afternoon. Lindquist was also 10-13 from the free throw line. Casey Staniger finished with 25 points, Kory Deadrick added 8 points, Jared Harms chipped in with 6, and Marc Peterson ended the Esko scoring with 4 points.

The Mustangs were led by Sam Johnson, who finished with 16 points. Josh Cheney added 15, Greg Mork added 9, Adam Burgess and Justin O’Bert each scored 8 points, Kyle Schulz added 6 points, and it was Cody Cottingham who ended the Mustangs scoring with 2 points. The Mustangs finish the season with a 9-19 record overall.

The Eskomos improve to 24-4 on the season, and will play next in the Section 7AA Semi-Finals at UMD on Thursday night. The Eskomos will face Deer River, who defeated International Falls in a section quarterfinal match-up by a score of 67-61. The second semi final on Thursday night will feature the Braham Bombers taking on Virginia.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com