Standing at attention for the national anthem at a recent home game, the girls’ basketball team ended its regular season with back-to-back wins and headed into the playoffs playing its best basketball of the year.
The Cook County High School girls’ basketball team ended its regular season on a high note by defeating the Nashwauk Keewatin Spartans 47-37 on Thursday, February 26 in Nashwauk. It marked the girls’ second win in a row as they head into Sub-Section 7A playoffs.
“The girls had a great first half, playing really well on defense as we took a 29-9 lead at halftime,” said Head Coach Mitch Dorr.
Coach Dorr said his kids kept their composure and continued to play well.
“We started the second half strong and extended our lead to 39-20 with seven minutes to play. Final score was 47-37,” said Dorr.
Once again sophomore center Emily Jacobsen had a big game for the Vikings, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Eighth-grade guard Sophie Eliasen had her highest scoring output of the year as a Viking starter with 15 points.
Junior guard/forward Lily Gruber-Schulz has been adjusting well to bringing the ball up the court for the Vikings and setting up plays. Lily scored 8 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.
Eighth-grade guard Sophie Eliasen scored a career-best 15 points against Nashwauk in the Vikings’ last game of the season. Here she is in action against Cromwell, using her leg speed to blow past the Cardinal defender.
Senior forward Jami Sjogren does everything well for the Vikings, but it doesn’t always show in the stats. She scored 4 points in the game while hard-hustling sophomore guard Sarah Toftey netted 2 points and dished out 5 assists in the game.
While the starters are all starting to peak at just the right time, Dorr’s bench players have also contributed a lot to help the team succeed. They include Shauna Blake, who starts some of the time, Maya McHugh, Essance Haines, Trace McQuatters, Bailey Cox, and Hannah Toftey
The 4th seed Vikings earned a bye in the first round of playoffs and will face the 5th seeded Lakeview Christian Academy Lions at press time in Hermantown at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
If the Vikings win that game— and they recently beat the Lions— they will move on to play in Hibbing on Saturday, March 7 at 5:45 p.m. Their opponent will come from the winner of the Wrenshall versus Carlton game who then face Cromwell for the right to play— hopefully—the Vikings in Hibbing.
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