The defending Section 7AA boys basketball champion Esko is back in the championship game this year after a pair of wins over Pierz and Virginia this week.

On Monday the Eskomos downed Pierz by 23 points. On Tuesday the team trounced Virginia to gain entry into the championship game scheduled for Thursday at the University of Minnesota Duluth, against Pequot Lakes, which downed Greenway 71-56 in the other semifinal game Tuesday. The winner will enter the state tournament next week.

In Monday’s 83-60 win over Pierz — a game postponed from Saturday because of weather forecasts — the Esk...