Tigers 2nd at Esko Coaches Classic

Mike Granlund

For The Telegram

ESKO - The Northwestern High School boys basketball team found a tall task in the finals of the Esko Coaches Classic Basketball Tournament Friday night as the Tigers fell to the Esko Eskomos 60-35.

Seven-foot-three junior Adam Trapp was too much for the Tigers as he blocked and altered numerous shots on defense and had his way inside on offense as the tournament’s MVP finished with a game-high 19 points.

The Eskomos also got 11 points from Quinn Fischer and 10 from Camden Berger.

The Eskomos (8-1) won their fourth straight game and are currently ranked sixth among Class AA schools in Minnesota.

Tanner Klobucher was the top scorer for the Tigers with 11 points. Alex Tecker added eight points and eight rebounds; and Riley Stowers, the team’s leading scorer on the season, scored two points before exiting with an ankle injury.

The Tigers actually opened with two Klobucher jumpers and a brief 4-0 lead. Esko recovered and slowly built a lead before closing out the first half with an 8-0 run for a 27-14 lead at the intermission.

Nine more consecutive points to start the second half gave the Eskomos a 20-point lead with 13 minutes to go.

The Tigers were not done, though, and cut into the lead. It was then that the outside shooting of the Esko guards sealed the deal as they nailed five three pointers.

The Tigers (5-2) face another tall task tonight when the Cameron Comets come to Maple for a non-conference game. Following that game, a showdown in Bloomer on Thursday will feature the Heart O’ North Conference’s two remaining unbeaten teams. Both games begin at 7:15 p.m.

TIGER TALES: Stowers and Klobucher were named to the all-tournament team. … Esko made seven 3-pointers and was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line - compared to the Tigers’ one 3-pointer and 2-for-3 on free throws.

Tigers 87, Jaguars 73

Northwestern advanced to the title game with an 87-73 win over the Hinckley-Finlayson Jaguars.

The Jaguars came into the game with a 5-0 record and were averaging 90 points per game.

The Tigers opened up very sharp, beginning with a 13-4 lead. Hinckley fought back, though, and with five minutes left in the first half took a 27-26 lead.

Northwestern closed out the first half on a run and took a 42-37 lead into the locker room.

Stowers was the big weapon in the first half with 18 points.

Northwestern started the second half with a 15-5 run for a 57-42 lead.

Up by 15 points with 12 minutes remaining, the Tigers went inside to Tecker and Klobuchar to maintain their lead. Five late free throws by Strowers iced the game in the Tigers’ favor.

Stowers ended up with a game-high 30 points for the Northwestern. Tecker and Klobucher each had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Kade Bartelt netted 13.

Tiger coach David Gustafson was happy with the team’s passing and unselfish play as they had 24 assists on the night.

Trevor Johnson led the Jaguars with 16 points.

Isaak Blue led three Jaguars in double figures with 17 points.

Esko Coaches Classic

Championship

Northwestern.......................... 14    21   -        35

Esko..................................... 27    33   -        60

Northwestern - Riley Stowers 2, Anthony Lupa 4, Matt Lindsay 5, Alex Tecker 8, Mike Lindsay 2, Tanner Klobucher 11, Tyler Little 3. Totals 5 2-3 35.

3-point goal - Matt Lindsay.

Esko - Quinn Fischer 11, Ryan Pantsar 5, Bryce Bottila 3, Isaak Blue 9, Stone DeLeon 3, Camden Berger 10, Adam Trapp 19. Totals 15 9-10 60.

3-point goals - Q. Fischer, Pantsar, Bottila, Blue, DeLeon, Berger 2.

Thursday’s Semifinal

Hinckley-Finlayson.................... 37    36   -        73

Northwestern.......................... 42    45   -        87

Hinckley-Finlayson - Anders Prater 11, Isaac Lenzen 1, Trevor Johnson 16, Kolton Furey 6, T.J. Johnson 14, Travis Visser 17. Totals 30 6-16 73.

3-point goals - Prater 3, Furey 2, Trevor Johnson, T.J. Johnson.

Northwestern - Riley Stowers 30, Kade Bartelt 13, Alex Tecker 16, Mike Lindsay 7, Drew Stribley 3, Tanner Klobucher 16, Tyler Little 2. Totals 34 15-23 87.

3-point goals - Bartelt 2, Lindsay, Stribley.