Skip to content
Hawks coach Andy Fenske and his players watched from the bench as the last seconds clicked off the game clock in a disappointing loss to Chisago Lakes in the Section 7AAA final on Thursday night. Hermantown was the two-time defending 7AAA champion. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Table of Contents

Howie

Hermantown boys basketball coach Andy Fenske on the Hawks' 95-82 loss to Chisago Lakes in the Section 7AAA championship game on Thursday night – "Obviously, the scoreboard didn't reflect what we wanted. The credit goes to Chisago Lakes for their work and execution of their game plan. We had moments where we just couldn't get the ball to go through the rim. That only happened a few times this season and unfortunately, in an elimination game, that's a tough time to have that happen.

In terms of our record (21-8), most would say our season was a success, and not making it to state would be a bad mark to put on it. However, the true test to see the success of our season will be the last impact that these young men leave, not just on the program, but on society as well. We get the chance to work X's and O's, life lessons, and be a steward of the Hermantown Basketball program.

When it comes to this senior class, I still can't put it into words as to what they mean to this program and myself. You get this group that some came up as 8th graders, most were dressing varsity as freshmen, and three of them played a ton of minutes from their sophomore year on. They won over 60 games in their three-year tenure, they set numerous team records, they have their names written across the individual records as well. They led us to three straight section championship games, winning two of them. There's just not enough time to say all the great things would begin to shine a light on what they have meant to this program. As we look down the road, we'll never be able to fill those shoes, but we'll be able to continue to build upon the success that they have taken this program to over their all-too-fast time spent in a Hermantown Hawks uniform."

Hermantown senior forward Abe Soumis (right) scored a game-high 38 points against Chisago Lakes. Howie / HowieHanson.com

 

Hermantown had amazing student support at Thursday's 7AAA final. Howie / HowieHanson.com
Supporting the Hawks. Howie / HowieHanson.com
Hawks senior guard Peyton Menzel. Howie / HowieHanson.com
Hermantown's amazing cheerleaders led a large Hawks fan base on Thursday night. Howie / Howie Hanson
Handshakes during the post-game medal ceremony. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Comments

Latest

UMD earns highest NCAA II Super Region ranking since 2018

The University of Minnesota Duluth football team earned its highest NCAA Division II regional ranking in seven years, coming in at No. 6 in this week’s Super Region Three poll. The Bulldogs (8-1), ranked No. 13 nationally by the AFCA and No. 10 by D2Football.com, last cracked a

Members Public

Take a bow, Hermantown football team

Hermantown’s 2025 football season came full circle Friday night — ending against the same team that handed the Hawks their first loss of the fall.  Grand Rapids, physical and efficient from the start, again proved too much, defeating Hermantown 41-0 in the Section 7, Class 4A championship game to end

Members Public

Howie: Here comes Duluth Public Schools Red Plan Jr.

Debt service already consumes about 60 percent of the school levy. With this addition of $38 million in bonding debt, Duluth is entering a decade in which the school system will spend more paying off debt than teaching future students.

Members Public
Howie: George Thorogood still bad to the bone

Howie: George Thorogood still bad to the bone

Thorogood isn’t one of those legacy acts coasting on streaming royalties and casino circuits. He’s a lifer — one of the last truly American showmen still pounding the boards the old-fashioned way: loud, sweaty, and swinging like rock & roll still matters.

Members Public