Girls Basketball: Esko advances with win over C-I

DULUTH-Esko senior Karlie Kulas admits the Eskomos may be a little spoiled in recent years.

Kulas was part of state-tournament teams as a freshman and sophomore, but as soon as that experience started to become the norm, it was shattered in a four-point loss in the Section 7AA final to Pequot Lakes last season.

Kulas and Co. made sure it didn't happen this year as the top-seeded Eskomos used balanced offense and stifling defense to down upstart Crosby-Ironton 55-39 in the Section 7AA final Friday night before about 700 at Romano Gym.

"It's like that monkey on your shoulders, it's just gone," Kulas said. "It feels so good to redeem yourself."

Kulas led the way with 13 points for Esko (24-6), which advances to play in the Class AA quarterfinals Wednesday at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. It will be Esko's 12th state tournament and third in the past four seasons.

Fellow senior Selena Shady added 12 points. Esko has six seniors, including all five starters.

"The senior feeling is the best feeling," Kulas said. "We wanted to get it done, and now we want to prove something at state, that we're not to be overlooked."

Esko got it done from start to finish.

Crosby-Ironton (17-13), a third seed in the subsection, had an early two-point lead before Esko tied it at 9-9 before going on 17-6 run to take a 26-15 halftime lead.

Rangers standout post player Jami Nelson picked up her fourth foul less than two minutes into the second half and had to sit, helping Esko open up a 17-point lead four minutes into the second half. Crosby-Ironton came no closer than 13 points the rest of the way as the drama was gone from this one long before the final buzzer.

Esko won despite getting just five points from leading scoring Ava Gonsorowski, who didn't force shots and affected the game in other ways.

Esko was never challenged in the section playoffs, and in fairness, Crosby-Ironton was a bit undermanned. The Rangers had an improbable run, including a pair of close playoff wins.

First-year coach Sue Peterson wasn't making excuses. With only one senior in forward Shayla Loiland, there wasn't the usual postgame tears and long farewell speeches. The Rangers could be back in this situation next year. Nelson led Crosby-Ironton with 11 points, including eight in the first half.

Crosby-Ironton started the season 0-5, including a 62-46 loss to Esko. Peterson was asked what she would have said at that point if somebody told her the Rangers would make the section finals.

"I would have just smiled," she said, laughing.

Despite the 12 state trips, Esko has lost its share of section heartbreakers. In more recent years it was Braham, led by NCAA Division I recruit Rebekah Dahlman, in the way. Not this year. Not this time.

"I told the seniors before the game, think about all the time and effort you've put into this," Antonutti said. "Now's your chance. Ultimately, that's what kids want. As freshman and sophomores, most of them had a lesser role, except for Gonsorowski. It's more meaningful when you're a senior to make it."

Kulas agreed, especially after what happened last year, when Esko challenged Pequot Lakes but couldn't quite get past the Patriots. Since that loss, Kulas said, the Eskomos had been waiting for Friday, and the opponent didn't matter.

"It feels like total redemption," Kulas said. "We probably took it for granted (the state tournament), but after what happened last year, we knew we had to work even harder. We knew there was no next year. This was it, and we did it."

Crosby-Ironton.....15-24-39

Esko...................... 26-29-55

Crosby-Ironton - Shayla Loiland 2, Alyssa Klancher 5, Kylie Monson 3, Karli Nixon 2, Danielle Rydberg 3, Tori DeCent 7, Jami Nelson 11, Mariah Bodle 6. Totals 13 11-14 39.

3-point goals - Klanch, DeCent.

Esko - Mackenzie Holland 3, Mandi Dincau 4, Selena Shady 12, Macy Sunnarborg 5, Ava Gonsorowski 5, Karlie Kulas 13, Eve Turner 5, Bridget Yellin 8. Totals 19 13-16 55.

3-point goals - Sunnarborg, Turner, Kulas 2.