The Agate girl’s basketball record stands at 3-3 entering this week following a 70-47 loss to Section 7 power, the Esko Eskimos. The three losses have come against three of the strongest teams in the area, including Duluth Marshall, Proctor and the afore mentioned Esko squad.
“We have hung with everyone and I think that is an accomplishment. These are top teams,” says Coach Dan Lillegaard. The Agates also had a convincing win against a talented Ely squad. Lillegaard continued, “Next week we go to Cherry, which is no small challenge. Year after year, they are consistently a quality team.”
Against Esko, Karly Holm led the Agates with thirty-one points, including eight three- pointers. Holm reached the thousand point mark a week ago which is a key threshold of success. “I wasn’t that worried about it and didn’t think I would reach it that night. I’m just happy that we are improving every night we get to play. It is great to prove to ourselves that we can play with any of these top teams.”
Junior Ava Fosness loves her two hours of focus during basketball practice and games. “I think our team can have a special year. We are coming together well and we balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses very well. Practice is a time of my day where I can escape all the bad stuff we hear in the media and are exposed to and just focus on something positive with my teammates. I think we have a special group.”
Following the Cherry game, the Agates play in Silver Bay Thursday, January 5th against the Mariners and followup with a trip to Aitkin to face the Gobblers on Saturday, January 7, 2023.
