Cloquet Boys Advance To Section Finals

Mar 11

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

The Cloquet boys basketball team advanced to the
Section
7AAA finals for the second straight season when they shot down the Duluth Central Trojans in their last basketball game ever. Cloquet trailed twice in the game, but overcame their deficits to take the 75-48 victory.

Trailing 14-13, it was Peter LaCourse burying a three pointer to give Cloquet a lead they would never relinquish again as they cruised to the 27 point win. Following the LaCourse three-pointer, Cloquet went on a 23-7 run to close out the first half and lead by 16 at half time.

Cloquet continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring the Trojans by a 36-27 margin to easily roll to the semi-final win. The Lumberjacks will face Grand Rapids, who advanced to the section finals with an 81-44 over Hibbing, in the first game of the double header at Duluth East High School Friday night.

The Lumberjacks had four players in double figures on Friday night with Chad Calcaterra leading at 22 points. Tim Defoe added 16 points including two three-pointers, while teammate RaRa Jones finished with 10 points and a game high of 16 rebounds. Andy Wappes chipped in with 10 points and Ben Shultz closed the Cloquet scoring with 8.

Jodeston Robertson led the Trojans in scoring with 12 points. Darcell Williams added 10 points and Sam Humes had 7 in the loss. The Trojans season comes to an end with an overall record of 11-16.

Cloquet improves to 18-10 overall on the season and will now try to dethrone the two time defending Section 7AAA champion, the Thunderhawks. Grand Rapids enters the section final with a 26-2 record and holds a current six game win streak over Cloquet.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com