Andrew Oakes' goal 1:31 into overtime gave Hermantown a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Duluth Denfeld on Tuesday night at Heritage Center and put the Hawks in the driver's seat for the Lake Superior Conference high school boys hockey title.
The Hunters (11-10-2, 6-1-1) took a 3-0 lead in the second period on a pair of Jason Johnson goals, but the third-ranked Hawks (19-3, 7-1) struck back for the next four goals.
Tyler Kaspari's goal at 6:47 of the third period evened the score at 4. Denfeld would have won the LSC outright with a tie, but Oakes' goal gives Hermantown a chance to clinch outright next week against Duluth Central.
Hermantown outshot Denfeld 53-27.
Duluth East 4,
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Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 3
Dom Toninato scored two third-period goals as the Greyhounds (14-5-3) edged their rivals at Cloquet to complete a season sweep and extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.
Grand Rapids 6,
Hibbing-Chisholm 2
Travis Underwood scored twice in the first period and the host Thunderhawks (9-11-2, 3-1-2) scored five consecutive goals to move into a tie for first place in the Iron Range Conference.
Jake Suihkonen scored both goals for the Bluejackets (10-9-2, 2-3).
Proctor 4,
Duluth Central 1
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The Rails scored three unanswered third-period goals to secure the LSC victory at Heritage Center.
BOYS BASKETBALL
International Falls 58,
Virginia 42
Shawn Filipiak scored 24 points and the Broncos outscored the visitors 33-17 in the second half to win the IRC game and end the Blue Devils' 14-game winning streak.
Duluth Marshall 44,
Two Harbors 43
Connor Erickson capped a rally from a 12-point deficit in the final 2:17 with a 3-point basket with 2.1 seconds to play as the host Hilltoppers won for the second straight night after enduring two eight-game losing streaks.
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Cook County 71, AlBrook 70
Kolten Karppinen scored all four of the Falcons' points in overtime to lead his team to the nonconference home victory. Karppinen and his cousin, Bryce Karppinen, each scored 19 points.
James Groth, who led the Vikings with 17 points, sent the game into overtime with one of his four 3-pointers in the final minute.
Duluth Central 69,
Proctor 28
Darcell Williams' 32 points and six 3-pointers keyed the Trojans' LSC road victory.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Ashland 57,
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Duluth Denfeld 39
Emily Stephenson scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half as the host Oredockers (14-1, 7-0) recorded their 13th straight win and wrapped up the outright LSC championship.
Anika Whiting added 20 points for Ashland, which overcame a 22-18 halftime deficit.
Hibbing 66, Hermantown 45
Laicee Grahek scored a game-high 22 points as the host Bluejackets sprinted to a 14-point halftime advantage and cruised to the nonconference win.
Duluth Central 59,
Proctor 23
Mary VonRueden scored 28 points and made three 3-pointers in the Trojans' LSC win at home.
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Esko 77,
Hinckley-Finlayson 30
Keely Deadrick's 26-point effort helped the visiting Eskomos raise their record to 16-3.
