The Cook County High School girls’ basketball team made two tough stops this past week, one at Esko on Friday, Feb. 9, and one at Cromwell on Monday, Feb. 12.
It’s always a challenge when the Vikings play 2A Esko, a much larger school with a strong history in both girls’ and boys’ basketball.
Esko leads the Big Conference Polar League with a 4-0 mark, and they are 17-11 on the season.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are 0-8 in the conference and have a won-loss mark of 6-14.
On paper, this shouldn’t have been much of a game, but then, that’s why the games are played on the court and not a piece of paper. One never knows how the contest will turn out until the team’s match up on the court. Until the final horn sounds, the game is still on.
The Cook County High School girls’ varsity basketball team played one of its best games of the year in their 63-49 loss to the Esko Eskimos last Friday.
“The girls played tough against a strong Esko team,” said head coach Kelly Hawsen. “I’m proud of the girls’ effort through the game.”
Junior guard Sophia Eliasen led the team in scoring with 22 points. Freshman guard Ariana Poyirier continues to impress, netting 17 points in the hotly contested game. Emma Gesch, Paisley Smith, and Morgan Starkey each scored 2 points.
Vikings fall to Cromwell
If Esko fielded a strong team, Cromwell girls are almost as good. They lead the small school Polar League Conference with an 8-0 mark and are 15-6 on the season.
For most of the night, the Vikings kept the Cromwell Cardinals in sight, trailing, but staying within striking distance. Then, late, the Cardinals took flight and flew to a 55-36 win over our Vikings.
“We played solid team defense,” said head coach Kelly Hawsen. “We were within 9 points in the second half, and then Cromwell made a run.”
Once again sharpshooting guard Sophie Eliasen led her teammates in scoring with 17 points. Sophie made two 3-point shots in the contest. Emma Gesch had 5 points, Alyssa Spry 4 points, Ariana Poyirier 4, and Paisley Smith netted 3 points in the game.
“The girls communicated well on defense the first half and played together,” Hawsen said. “Their help defense was the best I’ve seen this year.”
Next up for the Vikings is playing Moose Lake-Willow River this Friday night at home. The game begins at 4:45 p.m. On Feb. 20 the Vikings travel to Floodwood and then February 23 the Vikings play Nashwauk-Keewatin at home at 6:30 p.m. Come out and cheer for your Vikings!
Leave a Reply