The Cook County boys’ basketball team battled back and forth with the Silver Bay Mariners in the second round playoff game. Left: Sophomore David Bergstrom, pictured here at an earlier home game, had a great all-around game against Silver Bay, scoring nine points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out three assists. Above: The Vikings tensely listen to the National Anthem, waiting for the game to begin. Right: Senior James Groth added 10 points to the playoff game.
The Cook County boys’ basketball team lost its second round playoff game to the Silver Bay Mariners, 46-50. On Thursday, March 11 in Esko, the Vikings couldn’t match the Mariners’ intensity in the final minutes, losing a closely contested game to bring the Vikings’ overall season record to 8-13.
In the first five minutes of play, Cook County’s defense was dominating as the Vikings quickly took a 9-2 lead. The inside post play of senior Mike Austin and junior Ryan Martinson combined for eight of the first nine points scored. The Mariners were forced to take a timeout to regroup.
After the Mariners cut the lead to just three points halfway through the first half, the Vikings went on a 7-0 run to take a 19-9 lead with just 5:09 remaining in the half. Cook County continued to battle back and forth with the Mariners and held an eightpoint lead, 24-16, with just 1:10 on the clock before the break.
In the next minute of play, however, with both Austin and James Groth on the bench with two fouls each, Silver Bay went on a 7-0 run to cut the Viking lead to just one, 24-23. The momentum of the game had swung in favor of the Mariners, and halftime was a much-needed timeout for the Vikings. Martinson led the Vikings at halftime with 10 points.
Groth ignited the Vikings’ in the second half with backto back three pointers and Austin added a basket inside as the Vikings quickly captured a 32-26 lead. Thegame continued to go back and forth with Cook County maintaining a two-to four-point lead throughout. With 7:05 remaining and the Vikings trailing by one, Martinson made a shot inside and was fouled. He made the free throw and the Vikings recaptured the lead, 39-37.
David Bergstrom made a driving basket at the 5:29 mark to give the Vikings a four-point lead, 41-37. The Mariners’ Sam Otterblad countered with a clutch threepointer to bring the Mariners within one, 41-40.
With the Vikings trailing by one, Bergstrom calmly hit two free throws to give the Vikings a 43-42 lead. The Mariners went on a 5-0 run, taking advantage of some costly turnovers by the Vikings, taking a 43-47 lead with just 1:30 remaining in the game. TheVikings couldn’t recover, losing the game, 46-50.
Martinson led the Vikings in scoring with 10 points. Groth added ten points for Cook County. Bergstrom continued his steady play, having another great allaround game, as he scored nine points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out three assists. The Vikings finish the season with an 8-13 record.
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