Section 7AA Basketball Preview

Dec 3

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

Section 7AA

Girls Basketball

Esko Eskomos

The Esko Eskomos are looking to improve on last season’s early exit from the playoffs. Gone is a strong core of players from last season including Roz Chromy, Kelli Rengo and Amber Jubie, which will be tough to replace. Head Coach Scott Antonutti, though, has an optimistic feeling about this year’s team; he has four seniors returning including the teams second leading scorer from last season Amanda Bergstedt.

Along with Bergstedt, the Eskomos will feature Julianne Carley, Katie Tonner, and Katie Marquis. A solid core of juniors including Keely Deadrick, Danielle Salo, Lydia Pelletier and Alyson Glumac will provide a lot of returning experience. Freshman post Savannah Trapp should also be a force inside for Esko.

Moose Lake Willow River Rebels

The Rebels have a new leader at the reigns this season as one year head coach Neil Dickinson has moved to the boys program to be the new boys head coach. Andrew Miller takes over a team with a lot of playing experience but will miss 1000 point scorer Hillary Peterson who has graduated and is playing at UWS.

Natasha Dragicevich will lead the Rebels into the season with her experience and leadership. Fellow seniors Taryn Davis, Kathryn Coil, Rachel Mach, Katie Youngberg and Peggy Stephan will also provide first-year coach Miller with a lot of game experience. Juniors Maddy Adamczak and Alyssa Jusczak will also add some scoring punch for the Rebels.

Proctor Rails

The Proctor Rails will be a new addition to Section 7AA this year after playing in Section 7AAA for several years. Declining enrollment has moved the Rails down a class, which should be a better fit this season. The Rails finished last season 6-21 overall and are looking for a much improved record this season.

Proctor will be a young team with only three seniors. Nicole Lund, Abbey Lundeen and Kara Clouthier will be the few experienced Rails. Proctor will also hope for juniors Aubrey Knox, and Haylee Clouthier to play along with sophomore Steph Torgerson to help in the backcourt this year.

Boys Basketball

Esko Eskomos

“We have some good experience returning this year,” Head Coach Mike Devney told Northland Sports Online. “Size will be our biggest concern” Devney added. But what the Eskomos lack in size they always seem to make up for with hustle and hard work. Esko will have three starters returning to this year’s team, Jake Stainbrook, Brent Bodie and Adam Eskuri.

Joining the three returning starters will be Sophomore Jackson Lindquist, who provides outside shooting for the Eskomos. Sam Nigon and Adam Ryan will provide a strong inside presence. Seniors Cody Townsend and Phil Wirtz will also be key factors to the Eskomos success.

Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels

The Rebels will have a new coach this season as Neil Dickinson comes from the girls program to guide the Rebels, who hope to repeat as Polar League Champions. Dickinson was the head girls coach at Wrenshall for seven seasons before coming to Moose Lake-Willow River. The Rebels will have a strong group of seniors and underclassmen with lots of experience that should make the Rebels one of the section favorites.

Austin Jacobson will lead the Rebels this season with his range from the outside making him a threat every time he touches the ball. Trevor Nummela, a well balanced player along with Lucas Probst, Caleb Koecher, and Taylor Mattison should provide a very strong inside force for MLWR. Rudy Ketchum and Zach Wolstrom will added much experience off the bench.

Proctor Rails

The Proctor Rails boys basketball team will be in the same position as the Lady Rails as they will join section 7AA this season. The Rails, finding it hard to compete with the larger 7AAA schools should find more success in 7AA, although they will continue to play in the Lake Superior Conference.

The Rails are looking to improve on a 2-25 season last year will have a young squad returning this season. Ryan Rands and Jessi Gillberg are two returning starters for Proctor. Kaz Anderson, Anders Voss and Jake White look to round out the starters for the Rails this upcoming season. Head Coach of the Rails is Matt Berger.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com