Strong defensive pressure helped Esko jump out early on Two Harbors and race to a 70-52 victory in boys basketball on Thursday night.
"We played very well in the first half," said Esko coach Mike Devney. "In the second half we gave them some energy by not rebounding very well."
Esko sprinted out to a 45-22 halftime edge as their pressure defense created havoc with the Agates.
"Our pressure was very effective in the first half and they turned the ball over to us," explained Devney. "We are starting to shoot the ball better and that will be a key for us as we do not have a big post player to score inside."
Scott Lindquist with 20 points and Jake Olson with 18 points led the way for Esko offensively. Kevin Rengo and Micah Tengesdahl both added eight points, Jeremy Syrjanen finished with seven, Kyle Hall finished with five and Bryan Lindquist scored four points.
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"Our strength is our depth," mentioned Devney. "We have been playing 10 kids most every game."
Fordes Lodin led the Agates with 10 points and was their only player in double-digit scoring.
- On Monday night the Eskomos were tested by the Hibbing Bluejackets, and Esko came out with an impressive 60-52 victory.
Esko led just 24-20 at the half, but they managed to hold a six- to eight-point lead most of the game, never letting Hibbing gain a foothold for a comeback.
Scott Lindquist and Jake Olson scored 17 and 14 points, respectively, in leading Esko. Also scoring were Kevin Rengo with eight, Jeremy Syrjanen with six, Kyle Hall and Bryan Lindquist each finished with five, Jamie Stokes and Micah Tengesdahl each finished with a pair of points, and Ryan Eskuri added a single tally.
Jay Cary led the Bluejackets with a 25-point night.
Pine Journal sports reporter Kerry Rodd can be contacted at: kdrodd@aol.com .
