The Hermantown’s boys basketball team, winners in 10 in its last 11, is enjoying a well-deserved 11-day break in games this week.
The two-time defending Section 7AA champion Hawks have six regular season games remaining, starting with next Tuesday’s Lake Superior Conference game at Grand Rapids.
Hermantown (14-6) defeated the Thunderhawks 103-88 and Proctor 93-62 in conference home games last Thursday and Friday, respectively.
“Those two games were ones where we needed some other guys to step up into new roles,” said Hawks coach Andy Fenske. “We had a key player out sick, and we had another playing with an ankle injury, but each night the boys rose to the occasion.
We had three players that scored in double figures against Grand Rapids. Abe (Soumis) led the way with 42 points (15 rebounds and 6 assists), Nathan Hill had 23 (5 assists, 4 rebounds) and Brayden Lundeen had 15 (with a monstrous dunk in transition over a defender). Peyton Menzel led the way with 11 assists, and he's stepped up huge as a true point guard, finding the open players and they're showing him the love by him racking up the assists. The biggest story of the night was when senior guard Caden Berglund knocked in a shot from the left block at the buzzer for his first varsity bucket. The entire gym erupted. That was a big way to start the back-to-back home game as every section win helps us out come March time.”
Four seniors had double-digit scoring efforts against the Rails, with Soumis scoring 32 and hauling in 16 rebounds. Menzel added 19 points, including 11 assists, and Hill chipped in with 13 and a pair of thunderous dunks. Lundeen added 11 points and six points.
“All things considered, we had a great week of practices leading up to those games and we have the entire week this week to get guys rested up, back to as healthy as they can be, and to implement some wrinkles that we want to have dialed in come playoff time,” said Fenske. “We know what's gotten us deep into March isn't going to be what keeps us there again. We need to find a way to ramp things up and get other guys to step into some key roles. These seniors are not letting anything slow them down.
“We've had sophomore Lance Janson continue to shine in a role that's ever-changing for him. He's in a spot where he's one, if not, the first guys off the bench or in a starting role. He's had a handful of games with putting up big numbers, and he's continuing to add to his game. Junior guard Blake Sundland has had some great games for us in terms of efficient offensive scoring and distributing the ball well. He's finding guys to lock down on the defensive side and not letting up. Landon Burg is another sophomore who's been coming off the bench to provide us with some key rotations. Right now he finds ways to help get the scorers open, learning what it takes to be a AAA PG, and has taken some huge steps towards being that guy to fill in for the next two years for us.”
HAWKS REMAINING REGULAR SEASON GAMES
Tuesday – at Grand Rapids
Wednesday – host St. Francis
Friday – host Mound Westonka
Feb. 22 – at Superior
Feb. 26 – at Chisago Lakes
Mar. 1 – at Duluth East