Head coach Mitch Dorr talked over a play with Colton Furlong during the game against Esko. The Vikings faced a tall order in their game against Esko. The Eskimos are ranked sixth at state in Double A, and have the nation’s tallest high school player in Adam Trapp.
Before the kids took the floor head coach Mitch Dorr gave a tribute to the Vikings’ lone senior Sam O’Phelan, who was playing in his last game on the Vikings’ home floor. Dorr talked about Sam’s tireless work ethic and his contributions to the program both as a player and a mentor to the younger kids. No matter the final score, Sam O’Phelan never gives up in a game, playing hard to the end, Coach Dorr said.
Esko came to town on Friday, Feb. 10 and the Vikings knew they had their hands full.
First, Esko had gone to the state basketball tournament three years in a row, winning the Double A title three years ago. Over that course of time, Cook County has won maybe 15 games, playing mostly Class A schools.
Esko has 15 kids on its varsity; Cook County is down to eight players, three of which are in ninth grade, three sophomores, one junior and one senior.
And then there was the little matter of guarding 7-foot 3-inch Adam Trapp, Esko’s junior center. Yes, he has another year to grow. Mr. Trapp is a tall order for anyone to guard. Lucky for the Vikings Esko used him mostly as a decoy.
The game began with Esko guard Quinn Fischer receiving the tip-off and taking it up the floor where he was met by the Vikings playing in a loose zone. Fischer dribbled a couple of times at the top of the key then ambled through the Vikings for an uncontested lay-up. The Vikings answered with a Dyami Blackwell basket, and with that possession, it would be the last time the two teams were even.
Esko’s head coach Mike Devney kept Trapp on the outside on both offense and defense. Late in the first half Trapp grabbed a rebound and slam dunked the ball with authority, but he rarely touched the ball for the first 18 minutes of play. Still, Esko led 41-19 at the half, scoring mostly lay-ups they set up by running a patient offense.
Devney was angry at the break, accusing the officials of not calling a foul on the Vikings, who were trying to keep Trapp from taking a last-second shot before the halftime buzzer. Coming out for the second half, Esko ran a full court press and planted Trapp inside. Over the next couple of minutes Trapp scored four or five straight baskets as Esko went on a 12-2 run. With the score 53-21, Devney pulled his starters. Still Esko’s reserves held Cook County to 11 second half points while scoring 30 of their own. Esko won 76-30.
Esko’s record is now 17-2 and they sit atop the Polar League at five wins and no losses. Meanwhile the young Vikings’ record is 2-14 and 0-12 in the Polar League Conference.
For the game Dyami Blackwell scored 8 points and freshman guard Pete Sutton scored 6 points, hitting two long three points in succession late in the second half. Freshman center Jordan Porter also scored 6 points; Mikey Burton had 5; Sam O’Phelan 4; and Adam Dorr, also a freshman, scored 1 point.
Vikings lose to Silver Bay
The Vikings traveled to Silver Bay on Tuesday, Feb. 14 to face the Mariners for the second time this year. The first time the two met it was on the Vikings’ home floor with the Mariners taking the contest 58-46. Not much changed, as the Vikings lost to Silver Bay 66-55.
Leading Cook County in scoring was Will Ramberg with 24 points. Sam O’Phelan had 15; Dyami Blackwell 8; Jordan Porter 5, Mike Burton 2; and Trusen Gordon had 1 point.
Jason Blood led Silver Bay with 23 points.
The Vikings have two more road games before going into the playoffs. They face Moose Lake/Willow River on Feb. 17 and then travel to play Nashwauk Keewatin on Feb. 24 in their last regular season game.
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