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Hermantown’s young and injury-challenged boys basketball team played one of its best games last Saturday despite losing to Columbia Heights 75-67 in the Southside Showcase at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. “We had (senior guard) Alex Schott step up big for us at the Southside Showcase,” said Hawks coach Andy Fenske. “His effort and determination on both ends of the floor single-handedly kept us in the game. That helped lead us on a nice run to the end of the first half.”
Despite suffering another injury, Hermantown had guys step up and match Schott's energy, Fenske said.
“James Kleist was our other player who helped us lead the charge,” said Fenske. “Playing just shy of 30 minutes, Kleist gave us key stops and much-needed rebounding to help us take that lead.”
Hermantown (0-4) will visit traditional rival Duluth Denfeld (2-3) on Thursday before hosting Chisago Lakes (0-5) Saturday.
The Hawks are led by senior shooting guard MarNaries Ferguson, who averages over 21 points per game, and electric 6-5 sophomore center Carter Brown. Junior point guard Lee Brooks, the starting quarterback on Denfeld’s football team, is another major contributor.
Chisago Lakes is struggling, big-time. The Wildcats suffered a 107-40 loss at Monticello last Friday night. However, they did play Cloquet tough in their season opening game in the Wood City, before losing 95-88. Joe Couwenhoven, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game.
“We hope to get a few guys back this week for the Denfeld and Chisago games,” said Fenske. “Being a young team is tough enough, but being young and injured adds more challenges. What I love is seeing our players continue to step up and give us everything that they've got.”
TODAY'S GAMES
Boys Basketball
Duluth Marshall at Cloquet
Proctor at Esko
Osceola at Chisago Lakes
Rock Ridge at Mountain Iron-Buhl
Barnum at South Ridge
Moose Lake-Willow River at Mesabi East
St. Francis at Zimmerman
Cook County at Ely
Greenway at Rush City
Becker at North Branch
Big Lake at Princeton
Girls Basketball
Cloquet at Hermantown
Superior at Duluth Denfeld
Grand Rapids at Pequot Lakes
Proctor at Rock Ridge
Two Harbors at Cherry
Mesabi East at Greenway
Bigfork at International Falls
St. Francis at Zimmerman
Cook County at Ely
Becker at North Branch
Braham at Moose Lake-Willow River
Boys Hockey
Duluth Denfeld at Hermantown
Andover at Duluth East
Brainerd at Duluth Marshall
Rock Ridge at Superior
International Falls at Park Rapids
Northern Edge at Chisago Lakes
Girls Hockey
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton at Proctor-Hermantown
Hibbing-Chisholm at Northern Lakes
Duluth at Grand Rapids-Greenway
