The Viking boys suffered back-to-back losses last week. Although baskets by Brock Hommerding, Colin Everson, and Mike Austin (pictured on the free throw line) put the Vikings ahead of the Wrens, the Vikings were not able to hold the lead.
TheCook County boys’ basketball team lost in back-to-back contests last week to bring its overall season record to 7-11. On Tuesday, February 16, the Vikings traveled to Wrenshall, losing 43-44. Three days later, Cook County made the trip to Esko and fell 42-54.
Cook County and Wrenshall have had a history of hard-fought close games in the past five years. In the season opener, the Vikings came out on top, 63-56. The Wrens, who had been dealt a rash of injuries throughout the season, had won two of their previous three games with a full lineup to bring their overall season record to 2-14.
After nine minutes of play, the Vikings were dictating the pace of play and were up by a score of 12-5. In the final nine minutes, however, the Wrens went on a 22-12 run to take the lead at halftime, 24-27. Cook County was struggling on offense and looked at halftime as a time to regroup. Brock Hommerding and Ryan Martinson combined for 17 of Cook County’s 24 points to keep the game close.
With just eight minutes remaining, the Vikings and Wrens were knotted up at 37-37. Cook County got a driving basket by Hommerding and another inside shot by Mike Austin to give the Vikings a 41-37 lead with 6:21 on the clock. Colin Everson made a shot to give the Vikings a 43-39 lead with 5:37 left in the game. TheVikings would not score again.
Despite numerous chances to score, the Vikings could not find a way to make a shot. In the final five minutes of play, Cook County attempted 10 shots from inside the lane; two wide open three-pointers, and two free throws. None of them found the net.
Wrenshall found a way to score five points against the Vikings’ suffocating defense to win 43-44. Cook County played outstanding defense but their offense was as equally inept, as the Vikings fell by one point on the road.
For the game, the Vikings attempted 27 more shots than Wrenshall, but they made only 19 of 75 attempts from the field, which yielded a 25.3% field goal percentage. In addition, the Vikings made only four of 11 free throw attempts. Brock Hommerding led all scorers with 15 points.
Cook County was hoping its offense would have more of a scoring punch against the 13-7 Esko Eskimos. Unfortunately, the Vikings flat-lined on offense in the first 18 minutes of play and found themselves down 12-27 at halftime. Sophomore David Bergstrom had half the team’s points at the break with six. In the second half, Vikings kept clawing their way back with their tenacious defense. Cook County found itself down by 17 points, 12-29, before rallying to cut the Esko lead to just eight, 42-50. The Vikings couldn’t get any closer, as costly turnovers down the stretch hurt Cook County’s comeback chances. Esko went on to win, 42-54.
The Vikings made just 17 of 54 shots for 31.5% shooting. James Groth was the only Viking in double figures with 11 points.
Cook County plays the Barnum Bombers at home Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The 19-3 Bombers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Look in next week’s edition for all the scores and highlights.
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