Twin Ports Power 5: It’s gut check time for local teams

It wasn’t a great week for some of the local boys' basketball teams, except Cherry.

The Tigers kept rolling with wins over East Central and Deer River. The only team Cherry hasn’t beaten by more than 10 points is a six-point win over Class A No. 2 Dawson-Boyd on Dec. 7. They may not see a serious challenge until the state semifinals, and maybe not even then.

On the other hand, Esko got worked over by St. Paul Johnson Saturday, but moved up a spot because it also beat Duluth Denfeld.

Cloquet drops to fifth after losing to Rock Ridge and Superior. I could say the Superior loss, 92-46 on Friday, was mystifying — but it wasn’t. The Lumberjacks had been battling illness all week and were missing several players in both games. Plus, the Spartans were scalding hot Friday night.

Superior’s hot shooting earned the Spartans the fourth spot on the boys ranking, and Northwestern’s undefeated record in conference play has them at No. 5 among the girls.

— Jamey Malcomb

• This list and its comments are based on games prep sports reporters Jamey Malcomb and Reagan Hoverman have watched and/or stats that have been submitted to the Duluth News Tribune.
• This is a ranking of the top five basketball teams — boys and girls — in the Northland, regardless of class size.
• We are allowed to be prisoners of the moment. If a struggling team gets a fun win, they might pop up on the Five and disappear the next week.
• To keep things a little varied, we’re going to choose three teams from the two rankings to write a little about each week.

I don’t subscribe to the theory that says ‘You are what your record says you are.’ Sorry, Bill Parcells.

Not all wins are created equally, and losses aren’t either. Esko’s 9-4 record may appear pedestrian for a team that has played in a handful of consecutive section title games, but I encourage Twin Ports hoops fans to take a deeper look. It would take just minutes.

You’d see that Esko’s four losses have come at the hands of Annandale, Blake, Cherry and St. Paul Johnson, four programs that are a combined 42-12. Esko is a legitimate team and it plays the right way. Don’t be fooled by a record that has some blemishes.

Esko has notched wins against Duluth Denfeld, Superior and Cloquet thus far — all strong teams this winter. With more challenges on the horizon, Derek Anderson’s squad has a chance to be as battle-tested as anyone come playoff time.

That’s far more important than going into the playoffs with one or two losses after breezing through a cupcake schedule. Esko is preparing itself the correct way.

— Reagan Hoverman

When I said Superior was “scalding hot” Friday, I really do mean it. The Spartans hit SEVENTEEN 3-pointers against Cloquet. The Lumberjacks weren’t at full strength, but I’m not sure there was a lot they could have done. Every time it felt like Cloquet might be able to get something going, Superior responded with another bomb from long range.

The point is, if the Spartans can shoot anywhere near that well down the stretch, they transform from a team struggling to get to .500 to the team to beat in any postseason match-up.

— JDM

I was watching the Superior game Friday and found my mind wandering to a movie I love, “The Big Lebowski,” and something the Stranger told the Dude.

“Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear, well, he eats you,” the Stranger said.

The Lumberjacks did not play well, but they also aren’t whole. They were without Max Sundquist and several others were sick last week.

On the other hand, when it’s raining 3s like it was in Superior on Friday, sometimes you just have to take your medicine and move on. The only thing you can do is flush it, get healthy and come back better this week.

— JDM

The Hilltoppers have won seven of eight games since losing five straight to some of the best teams in the state — regardless of class.

Chloe Johnson has been spectacular all season, but Marshall needs newcomers Cairin Berger and Candice Ndomb to be difference-makers if they are going to challenge for a section — or state — title.

— JDM

The Wolverines have definitely righted the ship after a four-game skid from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4.

Since then they’ve won five straight and no one has been closer than Pequot Lakes Saturday, when Rock Ridge won 54-40.

The Wolverines are the favorites to return to the state tournament this season, but they legitimately have a chance to win a game or two there. The senior trio of Anna Westby, Lexi Lamppa and Maija Lamppa is among the best in the area.

They have a few more opportunities to demonstrate how good they can be with games against Mountain Iron-Buhl and reigning Class AA champion Providence Academy.

— JDM

It appears the Tigers will go as far as Abby Johnson will take them. The senior forward has been phenomenal thus far, averaging 19 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, both of which are team-high figures for Northwestern.

Johnson’s physical presence and unique slashing ability help her generate high-quality chances in the paint seemingly at ease. It’s part of the reason — along with several talented girls around her — that Northwestern is off to a 9-0 start in league play.

The Heart O’North Conference may not be the most dominant in the state, or anywhere close to it, but there are some quality teams including Cameron and Ladysmith, which are 10-2 and 10-5 overall, respectively. Northwestern defeated them both and is alone atop the league standings.

Sophomore forward Jillian Kunert is one of Wisconsin’s premier rim protectors, as she averages 5.8 blocks per contest, second-most of any player in the state.

Northwestern may not be a true juggernaut, but the Tigers are a talented team that has a chance to compete against nearly every team it will see the rest of the regular season and into the first round of the playoffs.

— RH