Cloquet Juniors 'Set the Tone' for Boys Basketball

Evan Rothamel and Max Jazdzewski lead the Lumberjacks' offense as they look to build on a promising junior season.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Cloquet High School juniors Evan Rothamel and Max Jazdzewski have emerged as the leaders of the boys basketball team this season, combining to average over 35 points per game. The duo, who have played together since elementary school, have seamlessly stepped into prominent scoring roles after limited playing time as sophomores. Though Cloquet fell short against rival Esko, the coaching staff is excited about the potential of Rothamel and Jazdzewski heading into their senior year.

Why it matters

Rothamel and Jazdzewski's breakout junior seasons have been crucial for a Cloquet team that graduated a large senior class last year, leaving the program with limited varsity experience. The two juniors have provided a steady scoring punch and on-court chemistry that has helped the Lumberjacks remain competitive despite their youth.

The details

Rothamel, a 6-foot-4 guard, and Jazdzewski, a 6-foot-4 forward, have combined to score 37 of Cloquet's 53 points in a close loss to Esko. Rothamel has been a strong perimeter shooter, while Jazdzewski has developed his ability to get to the basket and create easy scoring opportunities. The duo's deep connection from years of playing together has allowed them to seamlessly lead Cloquet's offense this season.

  • Cloquet head coach Joe Seymour first noticed Jazdzewski's shooting ability during an open gym session in June 2025.
  • Rothamel and Jazdzewski entered this season having started a combined one varsity game in their first two years of high school.
  • Cloquet rolled off a three-game winning streak at the end of January 2026, with Rothamel and Jazdzewski playing key roles.

The players

Evan Rothamel

A 6-foot-4 junior guard for the Cloquet Lumberjacks, averaging 17 points per game this season.

Max Jazdzewski

A 6-foot-4 junior forward for the Cloquet Lumberjacks, averaging 19 points per game this season.

Joe Seymour

The first-year head coach of the Cloquet Lumberjacks boys basketball team.

Derek Anderson

The head coach of the Esko Eskomos, Cloquet's rival.

Braxdyn Male

A sophomore player for the Esko Eskomos who scored 29 points in the win over Cloquet.

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What they’re saying

“They set the tone for us offensively and defensively. They are our primary scorers and both do a little bit of everything. They are good rebounders, scorers and are getting better on the defensive end, so they kind of set the tone with that, too.”

— Joe Seymour, Cloquet Head Coach (Duluth News Tribune)

“It's fun watching him shoot. I celebrate along the sidelines with him and get excited when he's making threes because it's always huge for our team.”

— Evan Rothamel, Cloquet Junior Guard (Duluth News Tribune)

“He's just a great ballhandler and point guard. He moves the ball around and still gets his shots, too. He's just a great player for us.”

— Max Jazdzewski, Cloquet Junior Forward (Duluth News Tribune)

“We talked about shading toward those two. They hit some tough shots and are just good players. When they're open, they are going to make shots and build momentum, so we had to find those guys every time down, and we didn't always do that.”

— Derek Anderson, Esko Head Coach (Duluth News Tribune)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.