Deer River, Cherry advance to Section 7A boys basketball championship

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On Wednesday the Deer River and Cherry boys basketball teams earned Section 7A semifinal wins at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s (UMD) Romano Gym to punch their ticket to the championship game.

Top-seeded Deer River and fourth seeded Mountain Iron-Buhl would need overtime but the Warriors earned the 86-73 win. Deer River’s Ethan Williams led the game with 29 points. Asher Zubich led the Rangers with 17 points.

Then second seeded Cherry rolled past third seeded Northland 86-53. The Tigers’ Isaac Asuma, a Minnesota Gopher commit, led the game with 24 points. Nolan Carlson led the Eagles with 20 points.

Deer River (24-5) and the defending Section 7A champions Cherry (25-4) will tip-off in the title game Friday at 6 p.m. back at UMD.

In the Section 7AA semifinals, No. 1 Pequot Lakes beat No. 5 Two Harbors 53-35 and No. 2 Esko beat No. 3 Rock Ridge 73-58. Pequot Lakes and Esko will battle for the 7AA title Friday at 6 p.m. at Hermantown High School.