Youth Sports

      Youth basketball on Saturday, thanks to Janice Hawkins

        Aitkin had a girls post season basketball team made up of 8th and 9th grade girls.  They traveled to St. Michael Albertville to compete in an MYAS post season tournament.  They faced three team that were all composed of different players from different towns. They came across MN Thunder for their first match up of the game.  They came out with a 43-26 Victory over this team. Eva Kalis was unstoppable with 23 points, followed by Paityn Hawkins with 10, Chey Shaffer with 6 and Leah Palm and Eleanor Hughes with 2. Their second match up pitted them against Central Lakes Thunder.  This team was an older team and had starting Varsity players from Staples, Pequot Lakes and other area schools on it.  It was a very physical games and the girls continued to persevere and keep it close.  The lead changed many times in the beginning and was low and tight with Aitkin down only by 3 points at half, 14-17.  In the end Aitkin came up short losing 27-38. Aitkin was 0/4 at the free throw line and Central Lakes Thunder was 9/17 at the line making a big difference in the game. Leah Palm was in fire from the three point line and hit three big shots in the last 7:00 of the game.  Palm ended with 12 points, Shaffer had 8 and Kalis had 7.Game three had them pitted against another team with players from multiple towns on it.  The took on House of Hoops for the closing event. House of Hoops had a very aggressive 2-3 Zone forced too many turn over by our girls. They were down by 4 at half with a score of 16-20 and ended the day losing by 8 points, 34-42. Palm ended the final game with 12, Kalis had 8, Shaffer with 6, Hawkins had 4 and Spicer and Kyllonen each had 2.  The girls came home in 4th place and learned and grew a lot throughout the day. 

(Shown left to right in front are Leah Palm, Paityn Hawkins and Elsie Kyllonen. Back is Eva Kalis, Eleanor Hughes, Chey Shaffer and Izzy Spicer. Not picture is Lynae Kinzer. Coaches were Tom Hawkins assisted by Janice Hawkins, Eric Kalis and Brent Schaffer)