Emma Gesch (5) throws the ball in to her teammates in the game against Moose Lake/Willow River. While the Vikings lost to the Double A Moose Lake/Willow River team, they beat Northeast Range and the Wrenshall Wrens to boost their record to 3-3 on the year. The Vikings are young, with no seniors out for the team. They sport three juniors, two sophomores, three ninth-graders and one eighth-grader on the team. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
To say the Cook County girls’ basketball team played great defense in the first half of their Thursday, December 13 game against the Northeast Range Nighthawks would be an understatement of epic proportions. Going into the locker at the midpoint of the contest, the Vikings were up an improbable 24-0.
You read that right; the Vikings shut out the Nighthawks for a whole half and won 42-24.
“The girls played great in the first half,” said head coach Kelly Hawsen.
A shutout wasn’t going to last forever, and early in the third quarter, the Nighthawks senior guard Shayler Lislgregard got free for a three-point basket. The diminutive guard, standing about feet tall but quick as a cat, would go on to score all of her team’s total of 24 points in the game.
Meanwhile, junior forward Paisley Smith who put in 18 points led the Vikings. Ariana Poyirier scored 12, Abbie Crawford 10, Emma Gesch 2 and Morgan Starkey had 2 points to close out the Vikings’ scoring.
The Vikings played stifling man-to-man defense throughout the game, breaking into passing lanes to make a plethora of steals. Only Lislgregard was able to break free and get off a torrid amount of long-range shots often behind screens set far out from the basket.
As for the Vikings, most of their points came on shots taken in the paint. The team made 19 two-point shots and was 6-8 from the foul line.
As a team, the Vikings rebounded well and fought for every loose ball. This was a win made because of a lot of hustle and grit. With no seniors out and not a lot of height, this will be a growing year for the Vikings. But expect them to be competitive. They show a lot of heart and like playing together, and that counts for a lot.
Vikings lose to Moose Lake/Willow River
Moose Lake/Willow River brought a hot-shooting team to Cook County on Friday, Dec. 13 and despite the Vikings’ best attempts, they couldn’t stop all of their shooters.
The double-A Rebels were also a tough-minded defensive unit who kept a hand in the face of any Viking who had the basketball. Still, it was a good game as both teams played at breakneck speed throughout the contest.
The Vikings trailed 35-16 at halftime and went 10 minutes into the second half before getting a basket. By then the score was 47-18.
At that point Ariana Poyirier made a nice drive, scoring on a lay-up in traffic. Paisley Smith hit for two points in the lane, and Poyirier put in a short jumper for a six-point run.
Moose Lake responded with a six-point run of its own to take a 53-24 lead, but Abbie Crawford nailed a three-point shot, and behind some excellent defense the Vikings closed out the game with 10 straight points and fell 53-37, fighting hard to the very end of the contest.
Ariana Poyirier had a terrific game on defense and led the team in scoring with 15 points. Paisley Smith rebounded hard, played tough in the middle and scored 11 points. Abbie Crawford 5, Rhonnie Poyirier 2, Emma Gesch 2, and Morgan Starkey, 2 points, were the only other Vikings to score. Again, all of the players put a great effort out on the playing floor, but sometimes the other team is just better. That was Moose Lake, at least on this night.
The Rebels’ high scorer was Natalie Microt, who had 11 points.
Vikings versus Wrenshall
Playing a tough man defense, the Vikings completely discombobulated the Wrenshall Wrens in a home game played in the Pam Taylor gymnasium on Tuesday, Dec. 18, winning 45-22.
The Vikings led 22-9 at the half.
“The girls played better the second half defensively which paid off,” said head coach Kelly Hawsen. “We are working on being consistent in our ability to play solid defense and box out.”
Viking’s center Paisley Smith led her team in scoring with 16 points. Abbie Crawford 11, Ariana Poyirier had 6, Alyssa Spry 4, Morgan Starkey 4, Rhonnie Poyirier 2, and Emma Gesch 2.
The Vikings play in a holiday tournament after Christmas in Two Harbors and resume league play in January. Their first home game of the New Year will be on January 11 against McGregor. The next night they face the Duluth East Greyhounds at home. Duluth East is coached by CCHS basketball great Brea Boomer.
Leave a Reply