Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys earn trip to state tournament

THIEF RIVER FALLS – Anthony Fisher led a balanced scoring attack Friday night as the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves trounced the Northern Freeze 58-38 to earn a trip to the state boys basketball tournament.

Chris Duff added 14 poinds and Caleb Ginos had 10 for the Wolves, who won their 17th straight game and improved to 27-2 on the year.

WHA will represent Section 8 in the Class A state tournament which starts Thursday at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Pairings will be determined this weekend.

Fisher had three blocked shots early in the game as the Wolves held the Freeze to nine points, taking a 20-9 lead to the locker room. WHA put it away by making five 3-point baskets in the second half, including two each by Ginos and Austin Richter.

Coach Pat Richter’s Wolves will enter the state tournament as one of the hottest teams.

Kade Klasen led the Northern Freeze with 19 points, but no teammate reached double figures.

Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (58): Ginos 4 0-1 10, Richter 3 0-0 8, Kimball 1 2-2 4, Duff 4 5-6 14, Fisher 6 4-6 17, Ovitt 1 2-3 5, Theisen 0 0-0 0, Widman 0 0-0 0, Hein 0 0-0 0, Swedburg 0 0-0 0, Pikala 0 0-0 0.

Northern Freeze (38): Binstock 0 0-0 0, Spilde 1 0-0 2, Englund 0 0-0 0, Warne 0 0-0 0, Ueland 0 0-0 0, Wagner 0 0-0 0, Klasen 7 3-5 19, C. Dahl 2 3-4 7, Hestekind 1 1-2 3, Brandon 0 0-0 0, Hanson 0 0-0 0, D. Dahl 2 3-4 7, Knutson 0 0-0 0.

Halftime: WHA 20, Northern Freeze 9.