LITTLEFORK — Garrett Larson and Jesse Steele are going to be a formidable 1-2 punch for Littlefork-Big Falls this season.
The duo combined for 31 points Friday in a 52-45 victory at home against Tower-Soudan in the season-opener. The win avenges last season’s loss to the Golden Eagles in the Section 7A playoffs.
“Kids were pretty happy about that victory,” L-BF head coach Jeff Maish said.
Larson, a sophomore stepping into the starting lineup this year, finished with a team-high 16 points and 19 rebounds, while Steele posted 15 points and eight assists before fouling out with 1:48 to play.
“They’re basketball players and it shows when the kids continue to work over the summer. And that’s huge for me,” Maish said.
Kyle Burmeister added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings (1-0), who want to start the season strong. They have a very good chance to start 2-0 with a road game tonight against a struggling Cotton squad.
Tower-Soudan (0-1) got 15 points, four assists and four steals from Travis Benck and 14 points and seven rebounds from Chris Suihkonen. Paxton Goodsky added 10 points and four assists before leaving late with an ankle injury. Goodsky had to be carried off the court with 1:15 remaining.
The Golden Eagles enter the season with nearly everyone back from a year ago, but struggled with L-BF’s zone defense. They shot only four free throws, finishing 2-for-4, and missed numerous 3-pointers.
“It was pretty poor,” Golden Eagles co-head coach Joe Krtinich said about his team’s shooting. “I’m sure the percentages were very low. We can’t shoot like that.”
Krtinich is coaching with fellow first-year head coach Derik Bjorgo.
After taking a 25-20 lead into the break, with Larson and Steele combining for 19 first-half points, the Vikings never trailed in the second half.
Goodsky opened the second half with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 25-23, but Steele answered with a 3-pointer on the other end and a 7-0 run made it 32-23. Tyler Lehman capped the run with a 3-point play.
The Golden Eagles cut the lead to five at 48-43 with just over two minutes remaining, but Tyler Fort, who came in for the fouled-out Steele, made his first shot of the season to make it 50-43 with just under a minute to play.
Game notes
• Attlee Ann Larson, the one-month old daughter of L-BF grads John and Dana Larson, attended her first basketball game Friday.
• Numerous Minnesota Vikings jerseys were visible in the stands. L-BF athletic/activities director Chris Bachmeier is a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals fan and attended Sunday’s game.
2009-10 Vikings Boys Basketball Schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME
12/11 HOME vs. Tower-Soudan W, 52-45
12/14 at Cotton 7:15 p.m.
12/18 HOME vs. Blackduck 7:15 p.m.
12/21 at International Falls 7:30 p.m.
1/5 at Cook 7:15 p.m.
1/8 at Mountain Iron-Buhl 7:15 p.m.
1/12 at Nashwauk-Keewatin 7:15 p.m.
1/14 at Northome-Kelliher 7:15 p.m.
1/15 HOME vs. Northland 7:15 p.m.
1/19 HOME vs. Bigfork 7:15 p.m.
1/26 HOME vs. Babbitt-Embarrass 7:15 p.m.
1/29 at Bigfork 7:15 p.m.
2/1 at Greenway 7:15 p.m.
2/4 HOME vs. Hill City 7:15 p.m.
2/5 at Ely 7:30 p.m.
2/9 HOME vs. Lake of the Woods 7:15 p.m.
2/16 at Mesabi Academy 7:15 p.m.
2/19 HOME vs. Orr 7:15 p.m.
2/20 HOME vs. Chisholm 7:15 p.m.
2/23 at Cherry 7:15 p.m.
2/25 at Lake of the Woods 7:15 p.m.
2/26 at Deer River 7:15 p.m.
