Boys Basketball
Duluth Marshall at Duluth Denfeld – Game Notes: The Hunters (6-5) snapped a two-game losing streak by blitzing Proctor 92-38 on Tuesday night at Denfeld Gym. Denfeld is led by junior guard Marnaries Ferguson, senior power forward Ethan Starstead and super-sophomore point guard Lee Brooks, a rising Division I prospect. Brooks, who also will be the Hunters starting quarterback next fall, is arguably the third best prep athlete in northeastern Minnesota, behind only Cherry basketball guard Isaac Asuma and Esko football and basketball standout Koi Perich. Duluth Marshall (5-4) is hoping to rebound from an 87-58 home loss to Superior on Tuesday night and is a major underdog against injury-riddled Denfeld.
Hermantown at Cloquet – Game Notes: Cloquet (6-6) is led by sharpshooting junior guard Jack Battaglia, one of the premiere players in northeastern Minnesota. Senior forward Abe Soumis is on pace to become Hermantown's all-time career scoring leader, and currently is the program's career rebounding leader. The Hawks (8-5), who defeated the Jacks 78-60 in Hermantown on Dec. 5, have won four straight and seven of their last eight.
Girls Basketball
Hibbing at Esko – Game Notes: The Eskomos (8-5) had their five-game winning streak snapped by Esko, 56-40, at home on Monday night. The Bluejackets are 2-10.
Duluth Marshall at Grand Rapids
Duluth East at St. Francis
Ely at Two Harbors
Rice Lake at Superior
Boys Hockey
Hermantown at St. Cloud Cathedral – Game Notes: The Class 1A/No. 1-ranked Hawks (9-2-2) will be strongly tested by the 11-3-1, 1A/No. 3 Crusaders, who previously defeated 1A/No. 2 Warroad 3-2, in Warroad, and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in St. Cloud. Hermantown is led by senior goaltender Dane Callaway (1.68 gaa, .943 svs. pct.), and team scoring leaders junior forward River Freeman and senior defenseman William Esterbrooks, with 18 points each. Defenseman-forward AJ Francisco (14 points) is arguably Minnesota's best sophomore prospect.
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton at Duluth Marshall – Game Notes: The Jacks (8-6-0) have lost three of their last four, including a 7-0, running-time home loss to Brainerd in their latest outing last Saturday. Six-foot-3 junior forward Bobby Thornton is enjoying a breakout season, leading CEC with 16 goals and 24 points, and junior forward Niko Gentilini (13 points, three goals) and junior defenseman Karson Young (13, 3) are elite players.
Duluth East at Brainerd – Game Notes: The Greyhounds (3-10-1) have lost six of their last eight, including a 6-0 loss to Chanhassen last Saturday at Sill Arena in Duluth's Friendly West End.
Greenway at Northern Lakes
Girls Hockey
Duluth at Cloquet-Esko-Carlton
Chisago Lakes at Proctor-Hermantown
Notebook
St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich of Hibbing has been demoted to minors Springfield (AHL).
Winnipeg Jets stats: F Alex Iafallo (17 points, +3), D Neal Pionk (16, +12), D Dylan Samberg (11, +15), Dominic Toninato (4, +6)
Opinion: The Duluth News Tribune's best sports reporter: Jake Przytarski. Best DNT photographer: Jed Carlson
Public meeting to get input on ideas for 40th Avenue West corridor study
St. Louis County Public Works continues to study options to reconstruct a portion of 40th Avenue West in Duluth, and will be hosting a meeting to provide an update and get public input on new ideas. The meeting will be Monday, January 29, at 6 p.m., at Denfeld High School in the West Commons area. People are invited to attend in-person, or they can join virtually at https://bit.ly/40thAveMeeting.
St. Louis County and City of Duluth staff have been gathering public input and preparing ideas since last fall as they plan improvements to 40th Avenue West from the railroad tracks near 9th Avenue down the hill to I-35. The reconstruction on the county road portion of the project, between the railroad tracks and Grand Avenue, is expected to occur in 2026.
Among the items being discussed are the driving lane configuration, the intersection at Grand Avenue, the railroad crossing, on-street parking, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and landscaping.
The lower portion of 40th Avenue West between Grand Avenue and I-35 is a city street. Currently, the City of Duluth does not have a project planned for this section, however, city staff are participating in this study to develop a plan so that when funding becomes available, the corridor layout will be complimentary with the county road segment. Anyone who lives in or travels through this area is encouraged to get involved by attending the meeting in person or virtually. More information can be found online at stlouiscountymn.gov/40th-ave-w-corridor-study.
