Prep report: East boys stumble at Brainerd

Duluth East boys basketball made several runs but couldn’t get over the top on Thursday, losing 69-62 at Brainerd.

East trailed 24-12 in the first half before closing to within three early in the second period. Brainerd countered to expand its edge to 48-39, and though the Greyhounds again trimmed the lead, this time to 54-50, Brainerd closed it out from the free-throw line.

Simon Winkels’ 18 points led East (5-10), while Aaron Anderson-Bonner scored 16 and LaDainian Bowman 13.

Gavin Willeck, Theo Yellowrobe and Brock Hilsgen were a tough trio for Proctor to tackle on Thursday night in Culver.

The 6-foot-6 sophomore Willeck put in a team-high 24 points, while Hilsgen pitched in 19 and Yellowrobe 15. Both are 6-2 juniors.

Wyatt Nelson and Dallas Loftis scored 22 and 21 points for Proctor (8-9), but were held to a combined 10 in the second half as South Ridge (9-5) raced to a 39-27 advantage in the period.

Julian Beckstrand had a 25-point night for the Bombers on Thursday, Jan. 23 as both teams rained 3-pointers in Barnum.

Beckstrand had three of 12 made triples for the Bombers, while Rush City knocked down nine.

Barnum caught fire in the second half, scoring 52 points after going to the break down 35-28.

Brock Hurst added 20 points and Patrick Poirier 14 for Barnum (10-4).

The Rebels didn’t have an answer for the Thunderhawks’ Joseph Sutherland, who scored 27 points as Rapids took a win off the Rebels home floor.

Rapids (6-9), which expanded a 38-29 halftime lead, also got 19 points from Brendan Sylvester.

MLWR fell to 7-6 on the year despite 22 points from Layne Radzak and 16 from Eli Youngs.

Carson Brown put up 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Tigers kept their unbeaten run going with an easy home win.

Noah Sundquist added 24 points and Noah Asuma 17 for Cherry (18-0).

Stephen McGee poured in 32 points as the Raiders cruised to a home win on Thursday night.

Gage Olson kicked in 18 as Greenway got above the .500 mark for the first time all season at 8-7 after starting the year 1-5.

Proctor showed no residual effects of suffering their second loss of the season on Wednesday, or of playing on back-to-back days, wiping out the Thunderhawks early on Thursday with a 63-point first half.

The Rails cleared the bench early Thursday, with 13 players getting into the scorebook.

Chloe Carlson made six 3-pointers for a game-high 26 points for Proctor (16-2), while Peyton Walker added 14 and Ellie Pease and Paige Evans 12 apiece.

Bekah Peterson scored nine for Rapids (2-15).

Celia Preiner led a balanced Esko effort with 14 points towards a home win on Thursday, Jan. 23, their fourth victory in five games over a two-week span en route to improving their record to 8-11.

Rachel Bopp led the Agates (8-8) with 16 points.

Moose Lake/Willow River made it four straight wins by shutting down the Raptors on Thursday, Jan. 23 in Moose Lake.

Maddie Volk scored 18 points and Madison Wasche 12 for the Rebels, now 7-7 on the season. MLWR held Carlton/Wrenshall to fewer than 20 points in each half.

The Raptors (5-14) were led by Myleena Ojibway with eight.

Five Rangers scored in double figures in a lopsided home win on Thursday night.

MI-B (15-2) for whom coach Jeff Buffetta recorded his 600th win on the girls’ side alone in Wednesday’s win over Cass Lake-Bena, got 15 points from Aniyah Thomas and 14 apiece from Paige Norman and Izzy Wiita. Norman also had 10 rebounds.

Solon Springs’ high-intensity defense helped the offense generate 55 first-half points in an easy home win over the Trollers on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Claire Beerntsen was 12-for-18 from the floor and scored 25 points, while Alyssa Fossum recorded 12 steals in a 15-point game. Halle Johnson also had a double-double of 14 points and 12 boards.

The Hilltoppers held off many of the visiting Fire’s 51 shots on goal but not enough in a close loss at Mars Lakeview Arena on Thursday.

Braydon Hannula scored twice, while Benson Peterson recorded three assists for the ‘Toppers (9-7-2).

Landon Wheeler made 46 saves in the Marshall net.

The Lightning held the Rails off the board until late to win their game on Thursday in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.

Already up 1-0, Northern Lakes scored three times in the second period to break the game open.

Austin Bryant scored for Proctor with 5:21 to play to spoil the shutout for Lightning goalie Hunter Moreland.

Brayden McLean made 15 saves for Proctor (8-9-1).

Three Gentry Stars scored two goals apiece to spoil Thursday night’s Senior Night festivities at Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.

Both Ryland Rooney and Jacob Guillie had two goals and three assists.

Kole Johnson scored late in the first period for East (2-17)

The Thunderhawks held Brainerd to just 12 shots, all of which goalie Ryder Miskovich turned away on Thursday night at Yanmar Arena in Grand Rapids.

Five Thunderhawks had two points apiece, with Will Miskovich scoring twice in the third period. Ander Rajala and Ryan Bymark had a goal and assist.

Adalyn Benson assisted all four Spartans goals in their win over the Bluejackets at Superior Ice Arena on Thursday night, Jan. 23.

Superior (15-2) got goals from Makaels Reinke and Gabryel Olson to lead 2-0 after two periods, then Emma Ferg and Katelyn Stamper found the net in the closing minutes.

Kaylie Nault made 13 saves in the win.

Bryjah Schnipkoweit made 23 saves for Hibbing/Chisholm (5-16-2), whose lone goal came from Brielle Oberstar.