Executing its deliberate game-plan with precision, Esko made Annandale and its helter-skelter offense look like the Cardinals were playing in showshoes, pulling away in the second half to win the Class 2A championship 60-41.

It is the Eskomos' first basketball state championship in school history.

Esko set the tone from the opening tip, draining a more than a minute and a half off the clock on its first possession before taking a 2-0 lead. Playing a tight man-to-man defense and not allowing Annandale to get out and run the court, Esko methodically built a 22-18 halftime lead.

With leading scorer Kory Deadrick experiencing shooting problems of his own, Esko leaned on Casey Staniger and Marc Peterson for offense. The senior duo combined for 15 points before halftime.

Any adjustments Annandale made at halftime were negated by a suddenly hot Deadrick, who scored 12 points after halftime and on three occasions, answered Annandale baskets with one of his own.

The effectiveness of the Esko defense was evident in the final statistics. Annandale, accustomed to getting easy baskets in transition, shot just 36.6-precent from the floor (15-of-41) and was held to a season-low 41 points.

Peterson finished with 16 points for Esko while Deadrick had 14 and Staniger 13. Matt Miller was the only Annandale player in double figures, finishing with 10 points.


VIDEO: Esko's Kory Deadrick and Marc Peterson


Photo gallery: Class 2A championship