Head Coach Gavin Bopp had a plan as he and the team headed out of town to play Hinckley on December 5. The Two Harbors girls’ basketball team was just barely into the season and still seeking its first win. Their opener on November 29 against Chisholm was a rough one, with the Bluestreaks beating the Agates 92–29. Their next game proved to be a closer matchup, with Moose Lake/Willow River pulling ahead late and winning by just five points in a 55–50 final.
Looking ahead to the Jaguars, Bopp had been reviewing film and mapping out his approach, noticing a few areas where Two Harbors could apply pressure and generate momentum.
“What was working for us was a full-court zone trap,” Bopp said. “It looked like they were a little bit weak as far as being able to handle pressure.”
At halftime, the team was down by five, but when they came back out for the second half, Bopp said they were ready “right out of the gates,” quickly tying the game.
“In order for it to get to overtime, we had a couple key shots that were made. We had a 3-pointer by Cora Emiott that kept it close and over time we just were able to pull away,” Bopp said. “We ended up going into overtime. It was an exciting game.”
That excitement fueled a high-energy finish, with the Agates pushing through a physical, hard-fought matchup.
“It was a very physical game. We had girls that were getting injured, unfortunately, and it was just a very, very rough game. And for us to come away with a victory there, it was very, very rewarding,” said Bopp.
Emiott, a freshman this year, had nine points in the 62–59 win. Her teammate Avery Swartout also had nine, including three three-pointers.
“She’s been a good outside shooter for us,” Bopp said of Swartout.
Chloe Nesgoda added eight points, and the night’s top scorer was Belle Bolle, who put up 19 against Hinckley.
“She’s been our leading scorer,” Bopp said. “She’s been solid and consistent.”
Bopp described the matchup as their “by far and away best-balanced scoring game,” with the team putting up its highest total of the season. Finding more routes to the hoop has been one of their biggest focuses.
“We are not typically a team that gets into the 60s offensively,” he explained. “We’re more of a team that’s in the mid-40s, so for us to get into 60 was awesome. Many of those points were generated off of our zone trap, and we were able to get those points converted from turnovers, steals, and jump balls.”
This year’s roster is “unique,” according to Bopp. The Agates have eight seniors, though Delaney Nelson—injured during track—will not be playing this season. She still remains heavily involved and serves as a captain alongside Bolle and Swartout.
Beyond that, the team has only one junior and a strong group of underclassmen.
“We have both the seniors that are contributing, but we have some very young girls that are very much contributing, as well,” Bopp said. “So far, I have not seen any attitude or poutiness, because we do have some good underclassmen.”
They are also adjusting to the loss of last year’s standout seniors, including Bopp’s daughter, Rachel Bopp.
“My daughter, Rachel, was a big scorer for us last year,” he explained. “She was our point guard and our leader, and so we weren’t quite sure how we’re going to fill those shoes, but girls have definitely been stepping up.”
Rachel is now at Minnesota Morris, where she just finished her first season on the collegiate volleyball team.
“These girls are working really hard,” Bopp said. “They don’t question what we’re doing; they just say, ‘okay, let’s go do it.’ I think we’re going to surprise some teams and get some wins that some teams probably don’t think that we could beat them.”
Bopp has been coaching the girls team for three years, after twelve years as an assistant coach with the boys team. Though he admits he sometimes wonders why he keeps coaching due to the time commitment, the Hinckley performance reminded him exactly why he returns season after season.
“That’s what keeps me in it. When I see our girls being able to overcome,” he said. “To see the look on the girls’ faces when they won that game, that’s probably the biggest reason why I came back. Just to see their excitement and to see how they can overcome difficult situations and the team bonding and everything that comes with it.”
The team’s goals for the season include finishing above .500 and earning the opportunity to host a playoff game.
“We would love to win a playoff game,” Bopp said. “More importantly, just the goal is going out there and competing as hard as they can, and learning about the game, learning about themselves, and having fun while doing it.”
Next on the schedule for the Agates were two home games, including a Tuesday matchup against South Ridge. If you’re catching this story before Friday, December 12, the team will be taking on Northwoods at Two Harbors High School, offering a perfect opportunity to cheer them on starting at 7:15 p.m.
Congratulations to the Agates on their overtime win and best of luck.
