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The moment Hermantown finally beat Duluth East at home, the season snapped into focus.
Tuesday’s 65-58 win wasn’t loud or flashy. It didn’t erase what came before it. What it did was confirm something important: the Hermantown girls basketball team is no longer just absorbing lessons — it’s starting to apply them against real competition.
That matters, given how uneven the first three weeks have been.
“We've been through an interesting start to the season,” Hermantown coach Eric Borndal said of his team, which will carry a 3-3 record into Friday's 7:15 p.m. Lake Superior Conference home game against Duluth Denfeld (3-4). Both teams are 0-2 in the conference.
Interesting is one way to put it. The Hawks opened with a 60-27 home loss to Bemidji. A week later, they scored 100 points in a road win at North Branch. Then came a 74-35 loss to Proctor, followed by a steadier 68-59 win over Esko. A 75-34 loss at Grand Rapids reminded everyone how unforgiving disciplined defense can be.
“Currently, we have struggled shooting against solid defensive teams, but have shown growth,” Borndal said.
That growth showed itself most clearly Tuesday night. Duluth East didn’t ease off. It pressured, contested, and forced decisions. Hermantown didn’t fold. The ball moved. The floor stayed spaced. The game stayed connected.
“We seem to play more relaxed against opponents who are less aggressive defensively and hope we can learn to play at a higher level against stiff competition,” Borndal said.
Against East, Hermantown did exactly that — playing through pressure instead of around it. The win didn’t feel accidental. It felt earned.
Leadership has mattered during the uneven stretches. Senior captains Bailey Hermanson and Aurora Decker have been the stabilizers — not just when the Hawks are rolling, but when they’re searching.
“I appreciate our captains Bailey and Aurora leading us through the beginning of our season,” Borndal said.
Hermanson has provided the edge — aggressive, assertive, willing to shoulder responsibility. Decker has supplied balance and toughness, keeping the group grounded when games tilt. Together, they’ve helped a young roster navigate early turbulence without losing its sense of direction.
The record now reads 3-3. Wins over North Branch, Esko and Duluth East. Losses that exposed real weaknesses. None of it hidden. None of it wasted.
“We have two good tests this week against Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld,” Borndal said earlier.
One of those tests is already in the books — and passed.
“We are hoping that our work in the gym will pay off with excellent effort and positive results,” Borndal said.
Tuesday suggested it just might. Not because everything was fixed, but because the habits showed up when they were needed most.
Borndal isn’t interested in shortcuts or December conclusions.
“It's a long season and we look forward to seeing what this team has in store moving forward,” he said.
That’s the proper lens. Hermantown is still becoming what it’s going to be. But after the Duluth East win, one thing is clear: this team isn’t guessing anymore.
It’s learning how to win the games that matter.
