Two Eagle River wraps up homestand with pair of conference losses
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PABLO — Luckily for David, he didn’t have to go four quarters with Goliath.
After playing Charlo close for two quarters, the Vikings’ size and physical play took it’s toll on the shorthanded Two Eagle River team, and the Eagles couldn’t keep pace with the Vikings in the second half, falling 61-50 in their final home game of the season Friday night.
“We got tired. When you’re only playing with three players on the bench and you get in foul trouble, that’s what happens,” Two Eagle River coach Jami Hanson said, explaining why Two Eagle River was outscored by 10 points in the third quarter.
The Eagles committed 20 team fouls and sent the Vikings to the line 30 times compared to their 14 trips to free-throw line, but Hanson said that’s what happens when you’re undersized.
“You’re going to have to play physical when you’re small, but give Charlo credit, they came in with a good game plan. They knew they were bigger and worked the ball inside,” Hanson said. The Vikings finished with 28 points from inside the key and outrebounded the Eagles 50-to-24.
The Vikings closed out the game in the third quarter, but they started pushing their weight around late in the second quarter. After T.J. Cutfinger found Skyler Rossbach underneath the basket for a lay-in to give Two Eagle River a 23-14 lead with just more than three and a half minutes to play, the Vikings closed out the half on a 10-0 run to take a 24-23 lead into the break. Half of the Vikings’ points in the run to end the half came at the foul line. The Vikings were sent to the line 18 times in the first half, compared to a couple of Eagle free throws.
T.J. Cutfinger took 10 of the Eagles’ 14 free throws in the game, connecting on six of them. Cutfinger led Two Eagle River with 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field. The Eagles regained the lead with a pair of Cutfinger free throws to open the second half, but wouldn’t score again until the 4:50 mark, when Cutfinger drained a 3-pointer.
Freshman Clayton Malatare scored the Eagles first six points on two 3-pointers and finished with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Malatare led the Eagles with four assist. The Eagles finished with nine assists and 24 turnovers.
Playing in his final home game, Eagle senior James Maestas was sidelined for much of the game because of foul trouble – picking up his third foul at 2:21 in the second quarter – but still was able to finish with 13 points and lead the team with nine rebounds.
The Eagles started the week with a 72-46 loss to Arlee at home Tuesday.
“We weren’t ready. It was just one of those games when we weren’t ready to play and they were,” Hanson said.
Maestas led the Eagles in scoring and rebounding, finishing with 16 points on 8-for-18 shooting and pulling down 13 boards. Cutfinger, who went 5-for-18 from the field, added 14 points.
Despite the two losses, Hanson likes where his team is at with the postseason fast approaching.
“With three weeks until districts I see some good things and some bad things we need to fix, but our kids are always competing ... They’re always giving themselves an opportunity to succeed and they continue to fight. Hopefully, we can claw our way in and upset a few teams come tournament time,” Hanson said.
The Eagles (3-9) will travel to St. Regis Thursday for a conference game and end the week at Lincoln Saturday for a nonconference game.
Summary
Arlee 72, Two Eagle River 46
Arlee 16 16 15 25–72
Two Eagle 7 9 14 16–46
ARLEE - Kasey Bridgewater 8, Kyle Felsman 16, Thomas McClure 4, Jesse Pfau 9, Junior Sansavere 2, Trae Burland 4, John Sansavere 10, Beau Couture 4, Trevor Rubel 5, Kody Morigeau 14.
TWO EAGLE RIVER - T.J. Cutfinger 14, Luke Butterfly 1, James Maestas 16, Clayton Malatare 3, Trevor Butterfly 6, Shun Ikegai 6.
Charlo 61, Two Eagle River 50
Charlo 10 14 17 20–61
Two Eagle 12 11 7 20–50
CHARLO - Dillon Delaney 10, Chico Stipe 6, Garrett Herron 3, Chance Firestone 7, Chance Rosenbaum 17, Houston Blevins 10, Chance Frame 8.
TWO EAGLE RIVER - T.J. Cutfinger 15, James Maestas 13, Clayton Malatare 14, Trevor Butterfly 2, Shun Ikegai 2, Skyler Rossbach 4.
