PEQUOT LAKES PINE RIVER-BACKUS
PREVIEW
WINTER 24-25
sports ECHO JOURNAL'S
BOYS BASKETBALL
Patriots look to improve after winning state consolation title BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal PEQUOT LAKES — The Pequot Lakes Patriots boys basketball team is looking to improve as the season progresses after winning the Class 2A state consolation title the past two seasons. “We’re looking for help from a lot of our players as we look to improve as the season moves along,” said Patriots head coach Rich Spiczka, whose team opens the season at Pillager on Thursday, Dec. 12. Last year, the Patriots finished fifth at the state tournament and ended 28-5 overall after defeating Jackson County Central 51-44 in the consolation championship game. The Patriots had lost to Minnehaha Academy 63-47 in the state quarterfinals. Pequot Lakes advanced to state by upsetting top-seeded Esko 55-42 to claim its third straight Section 7-2A title. Two Pequot Lakes players made last year’s Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team — senior forward Harrison Keenen, who averaged 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks; and senior guard Blake Spiczka, a secondteam pick who averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 repounds and 4.5 assists. Senior Connor Quale was also a regular for the Patriots — averaging 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. They all played a key
“We’re looking for help from a lot of our players as we look to improve as the season moves along.” RICH SPICZKA, PEQUOT LAKES BOYS BASKETBALL COACH role on defense for the Patriots as they allowed under 20 points per game. Other letterwinners include: seniors Brayden Dornseif, Mason Lundgren and Tollef Birkeland. Others who could contribute are senior Bryar Nordby; juniors Gus BolzAndolshek, Owen Krueger, Jadyn Peterson and Dylan Pederson; and sophomore Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal Rock Holubar. The Pequot Lakes boys basketball team includes: front row from left, Ethan Quale, Bryar Nordby, Mason Lundgren, Among the section favor- Blake Spiczka, Jadyn Pederson and Dylan Pederson; back row from left, Ben Anderson, Brady Dorseif, Owen ites this season, Coach Krueger, Harrison Kennen, Gus Bolz-Andolshek, Rock Holubar, Mason Shetler and Tollef Birkeland. Spiczka lists Staples-Motley, Esko, Moose Lake and Pillager. Pequot Lakes boys basketball Last year, Pequot Lakes December January Lakes 7:15 p.m. 6 - Pequot Lakes at Moose finished 12-2 in their first Lake-Willow River 7:15 12 - Pequot Lakes at 7 - Pierz at Pequot Lakes 23 - Pequot Lakes at St. season in the Granite Pillager 7:15 p.m. 5:45 p.m. Cloud Cathedral 7:15 p.m. p.m. Ridge Conference. 7 - Pequot Lakes at Pierz 17 - Little Falls at Pequot 9 - Pine River-Backus at 24 - St. Cloud Apollo at Coach Spiczka, who has 7 p.m. Lakes 7:15 p.m. Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m. Pequot Lakes 5:45 p.m. a 303-192 record in 19 sea19 - Pequot Lakes at 10 - Pequot Lakes at 28 - Nevis at Pequot Lakes 11 - Foley at Pequot Lakes sons of coaching, is assist7:15 p.m. Crosby-Ironton 7:15 p.m. Albany 7:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. ed by Greg Martig, Luke 14 - Albany at Pequot Friedrich and Jeremy Max. 20 - Pequot Lakes at Grand 14 - Milaca at Pequot 30 - Pequot Lakes at Lakes 7:15 p.m. Rapids 7:15 p.m. Lakes 7:15 p.m. Staples-Motley 7:15 p.m. Pete Mohs is the Northern 17 - Bemidji at Pequot 27 Pequot Lakes 16 Perham at Pequot 31 Pequot Lakes at Little Lakes Group publisher of Lakes 7:15 p.m. tournament 5:45 p.m. Lakes 7:15 p.m. Falls 7:15 p.m. eight Forum Communications 20 - Pequot Lakes at 28 - Pequot Lakes 17 - Pequot Lakes at Foley February newspapers, including the Milaca 7:15 p.m. tournament 3 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Echo Journal and Brainerd 4 - Pequot Lakes at Esko 25 - St. Cloud Cathedral at Dispatch. Contact him at 21820 - Park Rapids at Pequot 7:15 p.m. Pequot Lakes 7:15 p.m. 855-5855 or pete.mohs@ brainerddispatch.com.
BOYS BASKETBALL
PR-B boys basketball
Travis Grimler / Echo Journal
The Pine River-Backus boys basketball team includes: front row from left, Nathaniel Treague, Koal Oberfell, Gavin Tulenchik, Jester Ellestad, Waylon Peterson, Grady Mongan, Ike Larson, Brody Day, Scott Scovel and Tristan Johnson; middle row from left, Gabe Diers, Talin Vilnow, Isaiah Aulie, Isaiah Downie, Jon Shogren, Reece Trumble, Logan Swiggart and Khellar Kline-Bauman; back row from left, Dominic Zwart, Sam Pflugshaupt, Mason Nelson, Dahlton Minion, Bristol Alecson, Tate Norman, Eli Shamp, Xander Mickelson and Eli VanderArk.
Tiger boys looking for improvement BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal PINE RIVER — The Pine River-Backus Tigers boys basketball team, with 11 returning letterwinners, is looking to bounce back this season after finishing 6-21 last year. “We’re looking to the future after a tough 202324 season,” said head coach Jordan Ackerman, whose team was scheduled to open the season Friday, Dec. 6, at home
“We’re looking to the future after a tough 2023-24 season.” JORDAN ACKERMAN, PINE RIVER-BACKUS BOYS BASKETBALL COACH against Menahga. “We have many returning players who gained a lot of experience last year. We’re hoping to compete each night against the many talented teams in our area,” he said. “Our goal is to be playing our best basketball by March.”
Letterwinners include seniors Tate Norman, Talin Vilnow, Waylon Peterson, Grady Mongan and Dahlton Minion; juniors Isaiah Aulie, Koal Oberfell, Mason Nelson, Jon Shogren and Eli VanderArk; and sophomore Isaiah Downie.
Last year, Aulie and Norman made the Brainerd Dispatch All-Area team. Aulie, a guard, averaged 13.1 points and 4.3 rebounds while Norman, a forward, averaged 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Oberfell added 6.0 points and 4.9 rebounds. Others who could contribute are Khellar Kline Bauman, Gabe Diers and Scott Schovel. Last season, the seventh-seeded Tigers finished 6-21 overall after
December 6 - Menahga at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m. 9 - Pine River-Backus at Swanville 7:30 p.m. 10 - Sebeka at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 13 - Pine River-Backus at Red Lake 7:30 p.m. 17 - Pine River-Backus at Nevis 7:30 p.m. 19 - Pine River-Backus at Pillager tournament 7:30 p.m. 20 - Pine River-Backus at Pillager tournament 7:30 p.m. January 3 - Long Prairie-Grey Eagle at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 7 - Pine River-Backus at Northome-Kelliher 7:30 p.m. 9 - Pine River-Backus at Pequot Lakes 7 p.m. 10 - Pine River-Backus at Laporte 7:30 p.m. 14 - Pine River-Backus at Crosby-Ironton 7:15 p.m. 16 - Cass Lake-Bena at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m. losing to No. 2 Browerville/Eagle Valley 84-49 in the West Subsection 5A quarterfinals. PR-B finished 5-9 against Northland Conference teams. Rick Aulie is the Tigers’ assistant coach.
17 - Pine River-Backus at Bertha-Hewitt 7:30 p.m. 21 - Blackduck at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m. 24 - Pine River-Backus at Walker-HackensackAkeley 7:15 p.m. 27 - Browerville-Eagle Valley at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 30 - Red Lake at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m. February 4 - Nevis at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 7 - Northome-Kelliher at Pine River-Backus 7:30 p.m. 11 - Laporte at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 14 - Pine River-Backus at Cass Lake Bena 1 p.m. 15 - Pine River-Backus at Upsala 3 p.m. 21 - Pine River-Backus at Blackduck 7:30 p.m. 25 - Walker-HackensackAkeley at Pine RiverBackus 7:30 p.m. 28 - Pine River-Backus at Wadena-Deer Creek 7:30 p.m.
Pete Mohs is the Northern Lakes Group publisher of eight Forum Communications newspapers, including the Echo Journal and Brainerd Dispatch. Contact him at 218-855-5855 or pete. mohs@brainerddispatch. com.