Derek Pihlaja's 22 points and eight assists led the Menahga boys basketball team in a 78-67 loss to Eagle Valley in the regular-season finale Thursday night at Menahga.
Tom Gruchow added 18 points and nine rebounds while Marlin Aho had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four steals for the Braves, who ended the regular season with a 14-10 record. Markus Tolkkinen and Ben Skoog chipped in four assists each for Menahga.
MENAHGA: Pihlaja 7 6-8 22, Gruchow 8 2-4 18, Aho 8 0-0 16, Tolkkinen 3 0-3 6, M. Skoog 1 0-0 3, B. Skoog 1 0-0 2, Dormanen 0 0-0 0, W. Skoog 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 for 50 (FG), 8 for 15 (FT).
Halftime: Eagle Valley 39, Menahga 36. Three-point field goals: Pihlaja 2, M. Skoog 1. Rebounds: Menahga 29 (Aho 11, Gruchow 9, Pihlaja 3, Tolkkinen 3, B. Skoog 2, M. Skoog 1). Assists: Menahga 22 (Pihlaja 8, Tolkkinen 4, B. Skoog 4, M. Skoog 3, Gruchow 2, Aho 1). Steals: Menahga 8 (Aho 4, Pihlaja 1, Gruchow 1, M. Skoog 1, B. Skoog 1). Blocked shots: Menahga 1 (Aho). Team fouls: Menahga 21. Fouled out: Gruchow, M. Skoog. Turnovers: Menahga 13.
