Section 7AA Boys Basketball First-Round
■ Esko 96, International Falls 43 – Esko snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 18-8 overall.
■ Duluth Marshall 83, Two Harbors 76 – Howie Hanson Player of the Year Brooks Johnson had a game-high 31 points for the Hilltoppers, who advance to face top-seeded Esko on Saturday afternoon.
■ Moose Lake-Willow River 81, Proctor 57 – The Rebels (20-7) advance to face neighborhood rival Barnum (18-9) Saturday. Moose Lake-Willow River defeated the host Bombers 75-63 in their only meeting during the regular season.
■ Barnum 58, Hinckley-Finlayson 55 – The Bombers have won three of their last five.
■ Pequot Lakes 85, Aitkin 49
■ Crosby-Ironton 87, Mesabi East 48
■ Staples-Motley 85, Pierz 61
■ Pillager 82, Greenway 27
Section 7AA Quarterfinals, Saturday (All games in Hermantown)
■ 11 a.m. – (4) Moose Lake-Willow River vs. (5) Barnum
■ 12:30 p.m. – (1) Esko vs. (8) Duluth Marshall
■ 4 p.m. – (2) Pequot Lakes vs. (7) Pillager
■ 5:30 p.m. – (3) Crosby-Ironton vs. (6) Staples-Motley
Section 7AA Semifinals, Wednesday, March 13 at UMD
■ 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Section 7AA Final, Friday March 15 at UMD
■ 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
7AAA BOYS BASKETBALL
Quarterfinals
■ (8) Hibbing at (1) Hermantown, 7 p.m.
■ (5) Rock Ridge at (4) Denfeld, 7 p.m.
■ (7) Grand Rapids at (2) Chisago Lakes, 7 p.m.
■ (6) Cloquet at (3) North Branch, 7 p.m.
Semifinals, Friday
■ At highest seeds, 7 p.m.
Championship, March 14
■ At Duluth East, 7 p.m.
TAKE A BOW
Max Plante had two assists as the U.S. National U-18 hockey team defeated the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers 8-4 on Sunday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. Plante, a Bulldogs recruit who is expected to join the team next season along with his older brother Zam (Fargo Force of the USHL), has 10 goals and 42 points in 35 games, including five points (one goal) in the last five games.
PSST!
That was former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jerry Ujdur of Hermantown, a 10-game winner one season, refereeing a Section 7AA high school girls basketball game in Duluth last Saturday afternoon. He also starred for the Gophers and Hawks.
PREP PLAYER TO WATCH
Duluth Marshall baseball's senior shortstop-pitcher Carter Boos.
