Above: Something not often seen, Maya McHugh takes aim at the basket. McHugh is noted more for her defense and passing than scoring. Right: Sophie Eliasen (No. 31) is just a ninth-grader, but she is in her second year as a starter for the varsity. Eliasen has been scoring in double digits for the Vikings this year, and has improved her 3-point shooting by practicing over the summer. Sophie launched a long shot that hit nothing but net in a recent home game against Two Harbors.
Last week winter finally arrived in the Northland and while the temperature outside has been quickly dropping, the temperature inside the Two Harbor’s gym on December 28-29 was rising fast as four girls’ basketball teams squared off in the two-day Two Harbors Holiday Tournament.
On Monday, December 28 at 5:45 p.m. the Vikings played against the Ogilvie Lions while the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers faced the Two Harbors Agates at 7:15 p.m. with the winners of those games playing for the title the next day.
Cook County beat Ogilvie 78-42 to set up a championship match against Marshall who prevailed 55-47 over Two Harbors.
Defense was the key to the win, said Head Coach Kelly Senty. The Vikings used a suffocating man-to-man and switched off to a zone match-up to keep the Ogilvie Lions off balance, said Senty. The Vikings led 38-17 at halftime and outscored the Lions 40-25 over the second half.
Although senior guard/ forward Lily Gruber-Schulz led the team with 24 points, junior center Emily Jacobsen also came up big, scoring 22 points. Freshman guard Sophie Eliasen also had a big night, scoring 16 points. Eliasen hit four 3-point baskets to make sure Ogilvie couldn’t pack their defense inside to stop Gruber-Schulz and Smith from scoring. Hannah Toftey had 8 points while Sarah Toftey netted 5 point and Maya McHugh—a tough defender—added 3 points.
Vikings topple Hilltoppers
Cook County used a smothering defense to hold Duluth Marshall to 19 points in the championship game. Meanwhile the Vikings’ offense hummed along as the girls put up 47 points to take an easy victory over a decent Duluth Marshall Hilltoper team.
“Overall the girls played well and we are starting to flow as a team,” said Coach Senty.
“Turnovers have been an issue for our team. We set a goal against Marshall for the first half to have seven turnovers or less and the girls had six. We set another goal for the second half to have six or less and the girls had five turnovers. That was a huge success for us and it shows in the score,” Senty said.
Once again Lily Gruber-Schulz led the team in scoring with 19 points. Gruber-Schulz was named MVP of the tournament by the coaches. Emily Jacobsen ended her night with 10 points, Sophie Eliasen finished with 8, Bailey Cox had 4, Hannah Toftey 2, Sarah Toftey 2, and Shauna Blake had 2 points.
“The Two Harbors Christmas Tournament was a great momentum builder for us as we head into January,” Coach Senty said.
The Vikings’ record is now four wins versus two losses as they head into the New Year.
The girls had an alumni game and scrimmage on December 31 and play a home game on Saturday, January 2 against Thunder Bay. The junior varsity game will start at noon and the varsity game will follow at 1:45 p.m.
The Vikings get back into league play on January 8 when they travel to Barnum. They play Cherry at home on Tuesday, January 12 at 6:30 p.m. Come out and cheer on your Vikings!
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