Friday's boys basketball playoff games

By Jon Nowacki

March 13, 2014 at 9:20 PM

FOND DU LAC Ojibwe (25-3) VS. BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA (29-1)

What: Class A state tournament semifinal

When: Noon today

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis

Outlook: With its bandwagon growing, Fond du Lac Ojibwe takes its first state tournament run to Target Center, where it will need to take care of the basketball and have a strong shooting performance to keep pace with the state’s top-ranked team in Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. … Fond du Lac Ojibwe advanced with a thrilling 85-82 triple-overtime victory over Canby as junior forward Davonte Williamson had 23 points and 20 rebounds and sophomore guard Jordan Diver added 19 points. It was a gutsy effort for the fifth-seeded Ogichidaag, who had two players foul out and others who were hobbled. It will be interesting to see how much energy they have left after the extended basketball bonanza. Fond du Lac Ojibwe shot 41 percent and had 21 turnovers against Canby and will likely need to improve in those areas to have a chance today. … Top-ranked and top-seeded Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa shot 56 percent and forced 23 turnovers to blitz Park Christian on Thursday at Williams Arena. The Jaguars were leading 47-18 at the half, quickly turning Thursday’s morning quarterfinal into a snoozer. The Jaguars are long and quick. Brian Goodwin, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, scored 35 points against Park Christian on 17-for-27 shooting. James Kuefler and Billy Borgerding, who go 6-4 and 6-7, added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Quotable: We just have to run and gun and continue to play our game,” Brown said. “They’ll be a challenge, but we’re on a roll, so who knows?”

Radio: WKLK-FM 96.5

TV:WDIO/Me-TV 10.2

Internet: sbnsports.net

Tickets: dults, $14; students, $9

ESKO (27-3) VS. FAIRMONT (25-4) What: Class AA state tournament semifinal

When: 8 p.m. today

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis

Outlook: Esko got a quarterfinal scare on Wednesday against East Grand Forks but survived. The second-seeded Eskomos will see if that helps light a spark for the rest of the tournament, starting with third-seeded Fairmont. Esko is playing in its fourth state tournament, and second straight, while Fairmont is playing in its fifth, but first since 1990. Esko was ranked No. 1 in the final Minnesota Basketball News poll, while Fairmont was No. 7. … Esko is coming off a 57-54 overtime victory over East Grand Forks as Kory Deadrick had 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Eskomos. Marc Peterson added 16 points and Casey Staniger chipped in with 11. … Fairmont, the Section 3AA champion from the southern part of the state near the Iowa border, advanced with a 58-54 victory over St. Peter as seniors Jay Ruen and Mitch Pfingsten led the Cardinals with 17 points apiece.

Tournament trivia:Esko’s opponent, Fairmont, lost 66-52 to the Eskomos in the fifth-place game of the 1955 state tournament consolation round. The tournament was single-class until 1971. At the time, according to the book “Esko’s Corner,” Minnesota had 480 schools that played basketball but only 58 that had hockey teams. It was also 50 years ago this month when Proctor’s Bob Laney set tournament records for rebounding with 32 in a single game and 69 for three games.

Radio: WKLK-FM 96.5

TV:WDIO/Me-TV 10.2

Internet: sbnsports.net

Tickets: Adults, $14; students, $9

JON NOWACKI, NEWS TRIBUNE

By Jon Nowacki

Jon Nowacki joined the News Tribune in August 1998 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Stephen, Minnesota, in the northwest corner of the state, where he was actively involved in school and sports and was a proud member of the Tigers’ 1992 state championship nine-man football team.

After graduating in 1993, Nowacki majored in print journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, serving as editor of the college paper, “The Aquin,” and graduating with honors in December 1997. He worked with the Associated Press during the “tobacco trial” of 1998, leading to the industry’s historic $206 billion settlement, before moving to Duluth.

Nowacki started as a prep reporter for the News Tribune before moving onto the college ranks, with an emphasis on Minnesota Duluth football, including coverage of the Bulldogs’ NCAA Division II championships in 2008 and 2010.

Nowacki continues to focus on college sports while filling in as a backup on preps, especially at tournament time. He covers the Duluth Huskies baseball team and auto racing in the summer. When time allows, he also writes an offbeat and lighthearted food column entitled “The Taco Stand,” a reference to the “Taco Jon” nickname given to him by his older brother when he was a teenager that stuck with him through college. He has a teenage daughter, Emma.

Nowacki can be reached at jnowacki@duluthnews.com or (218) 380-7027. Follow him on Twitter @TacoJon1.

Friday's boys basketball playoff games

FOND DU LAC Ojibwe (25-3) VS. BELGRADE-BROOTEN-ELROSA (29-1) What: Class A state tournament semifinal When: Noon today Where: Target Center, Minneapolis Outlook: With its bandwagon growing, Fond du Lac Ojibwe takes its first state tournament run ...