Pine River-Backus lives up to billing

GRAND RAPIDS -- The top-seeded Pine-River Backus boys' basketball team handed the eighth-seeded Blackduck Drakes an 81-55 loss in Section 7AA action Saturday.

Joe Bueckers led the Tigers offense, scoring 20 points. Micah Johnson scored 18 points including three three-pointers to help PR-B to a 20-3 overall record.

"We started out kind of slow in the first quarter, but after that we played better," said Tigers coach Bob Nelson. "We're looking forward to the next few games."

For the second round of Section 7AA play, the Tigers will face off against the Crosby-Ironton Rangers at the University of Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.

Pine River-Backus 8 22 27 24 -- 81

Blackduck 18 12 10 15 -- 55

Pine River-Backus (81)

Joe Bueckers 20, Corey Anderson 11, Adam Nelson 4, Micah Johnson 18, Nick Flier 2, Ross Kleiner 7, Nick Keefe 3, Justin Schwegel 3, Cole Peterson 3, Landon Hamilton 2, Justin Kelley 8. Team totals: FG 28, FT 16-23 (70 percent). Overall -- 20-3. Next game: vs. Crosby-Ironton at the UMD Saturday at 6:00

BLACKDUCK (55)

Dustin Anderson 14, John Addler 5, Ty Moen 6, Joe McKean 15, Chris Carlson 2, James Tillisch 9, Frank Wizner 4. Team totals: FG 19, FT 10-12 (83 percent).

3-point baskets -- PL 9 (Anderson 3, Johnson 3, Bueckers 2, Schwegel) B 7. Total fouls -- PL 17, B 20. Fouled out -- B-Moen.

Crosby-Ironton 50, Deer River 31

GRAND RAPIDS -- The Crosby-Ironton Rangers got past the opening round in Section 7AA boys basketball by defeating the Deer River Warriors 50-31 Saturday.

The Rangers had a very balanced scoring attack lead by Earl Villebrun with 11 points and followed by Gideon Avelsgard with nine all coming from behind the arc.

James Freese also added eight rebounds for the Rangers and Tom Mount contributed four assists and four steals.

The Rangers extend their season and their record to 10-13. They will play Pine River-Backus Saturday at the University of Minnesota-Duluth at 6:00 p.m.

Crosby-Ironton 19 5 9 17 -- 50

Deer River 7 11 4 9 -- 31

CROSBY-IRONTON (50)

Dan Ogard 3, Earl Villebrun 11, Tom Mount 7, Gideon Avelsgard 9, Kyle Bartels 2, Joel Anderson 8, Ben Baratto 2, James Freese 8. Team totals: FG 16-48 (33 percent), FT 11-17 (65 percent). Overall -- 10-13. Next game: Saturday at UMD 6:00 p.m. vs. Pine River-Backus.

DEER RIVER (31)

Scott Preble 6, Scott Ramsdell 2, Mike Isaacs 2, Casey Jensen 1, Jess Huju 15, Justin Bonestell 3, Earl Seeleyle 2. Team totals: FG 10-40 (25 percent), FT 8-19 (42 percent).

3-point baskets -- CI 7 (Avelsgard 3, Villebrun 2, Ogard, Mount), DR 2. Rebounds -- CI 25 (Freese 8), DR 25. Turnovers -- CI 12, DR 14. Total fouls -- CI 19, DR 16. Fouled out -- DR Huju. Assists -- CI 17 (Mount 4), DR 3. Steals -- CI 7 (Mount 4), DR 3. Blocks -- CI 1, DR 2.

Aitkin 65, Greenway 51

GRAND RAPIDS -- The Aitkin Gobblers defeated the Greenway Raiders 65-51 Saturday in the opening round of Section 7AA boys' basketball.

Leading the Gobblers was Brandon Siemers with 16 points and Adam Spolarich with 15.

"We got off to a slow start, but were able to hang in and have a solid fourth quarter," said Gobblers coach Greg Hills. "Adam hit 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter which really gave us the spark we needed."

The Gobblers are now 18-5 overall and will face Chisholm Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Aitkin 12 15 13 25 -- 65

Greenway 14 12 10 15 -- 51

AITKIN (65)

Anthony Blake 3, Wes Hoppe 3, Adam Holder 5, Mark Weimer 2, Ryan Fowlds 6, Jesse Smithson 9, Jeremiah Bender 6, Brandon Siemers 16, Adam Spolarich 15. Team totals: FG 28, FT 4-16 (25 percent). Overall -- 18-5. Next game: Saturday 1:00 p.m. at UMD vs. Chisholm.

GREENWAY (51)

Shane Jones 2, Ryan Hawkinson 6, Nate Jasper 17, Justin Nelson 5, Brian Birt 2, Andy Reed 4, Eric Wright 15. Team totals: FG 20, FT 5-5 (100 percent). Overall -- 6-17.

3-point baskets -- A 5 (Spolarich 3, Fowlds, Holder), G 6. Total fouls -- A 8, G 13.

Chisholm 84, Pequot Lakes 48

LOCATION -- The Pequot Lakes boys' basketball team was defeated by the Chisholm Bluestreaks 84-48 in the opening round of Section 7AA action Saturday.

Matt Royer led the Patriots in scoring with 15 points and teammate Eric Miller added nine. The Patriots shot just 48 percent from the free throw line, hitting 13-29.

Pequot Lakes ended their season with a 8-15 overall record.

Chisholm 26 25 16 17 -- 84

Pequot Lakes 13 6 16 13 -- 48

CHISHOLM (84)

Marcus Barto 5, Joe Benchina 17, Mike Benchina 2, Wade Cooper 20, Jeff Gornick 11, Rich Pender 21, Jon Pessenda 4, Keith Soroko 2, Mike Wilson 2. Team totals: FG 35, FT 10-18 (56 percent).

PEQUOT LAKES (48)

Tony Landecker 2, Joey Neznik 2, David Hart 2, Matt Royer 15, Justin Biebighauser 4, Eric Miller 9, Jeremy Wiczek 3, Jeremiah Harvey 2, David Schwen 6, Dan Ackerson 3. Team totals: FG 17, FT 13-29 (48 percent). Overall -- 8-15.

3-point baskets -- PL-1 (Royer); C-4 (Barto, J. Benchina, Cooper, Gornick).