ESKO (26-4) VS. ROSEAU (24-6)
What: Class AA state tournament quarterfinal
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis
Outlook: A year after being unseeded and meeting the bracket’s No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals, the roles are reversed for Esko. Making their second consecutive and 11th overall state tournament appearance, the Eskomos are buoyed by the confidence they gained in winning two of three tournament games en route to a third-place showing in 2014. Last year, they opened with a 39-35 upset of New London-Spicer, on the same makeshift Mariucci floor and in the same late time slot. Much as that squad, this Esko team is all about defense. The Section 7AA champs are allowing 37.2 points per game, though that number has shrunk to 27.8 through four postseason games, including a 55-29 dispatching of International Falls in Saturday’s section final. No. 3 Esko forces more than 18 turnovers a night. This is the fifth straight season of at least 26 wins for Scott Antonutti’s program. Bailey Mudek (11.2 points per game) and Ava Gonsorowski (10.5) lead a balanced offense, while 6-foot-5 center Molly Trapp averages 8.5 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game. … A school known much more for its hockey prowess, Roseau is back at state for the first time since 2000 and the third time overall. Led by the Borowicz sisters, the Rams lead Class AA in scoring at 72.3 points per game. Kiley Borowicz, a sophomore, averages 26 points and already has reached 1,000 for her career. Kacie Borowicz, just an eighth-grader, averages 17.4 a night and also is closing in on the 1,000-point mark. Roseau is an up-tempo team that relies on its full-court press to generate steals and easy baskets the other way. Kiley Borowicz averages 4.3 swipes a game. The Rams were the first team to beat Mountain Iron-Buhl this winter, spoiling the Rangers’ 18-0 start via a 69-66 win on Feb. 6. Earlier in the year, MIB beat Esko 60-39. Roseau held off Barnesville 63-59 in overtime in the Section 8AA championship game.
Radio: WKLK-FM 96.5
Tickets: Adults, $14; students, $9
Twitter: @Louiesg3
Quotable: “I think last year was almost a feeling of relief because we were finally able to (reach state). And this year I think everybody felt all along that we were probably considered the favorites by a bunch, and we hadn’t been in that position before. It’s still a sense of relief and enjoyment and hopefully they have as much fun as last year.” - Antonutti
