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Bell tolls for Negaunee over Esky in opener

Mike Mattson | Daily Press Negaunee’s Trent Bell gets sandwiched by Escanaba defenders Dalton Deneau (14), C.J. Barron (10) and Tyler Willette while battling for a rebound in Tuesday’s season-opener. The 6-foot-7 Bell produced a career-high 37 points and 16 rebounds in the Miners’ 68-48 season-opening win against the Eskymos.

ESCANABA — Believe it or not, Negaunee’s Trent Bell felt uneasy about the season-opening boys’ basketball game Tuesday night at Escanaba.

The 6-foot-7 senior and four-year starter actually had butterflies in his stomach.

“I was nervous for the first game,” Bell admitted. “It was my last first game. It was a little scary.”

Not as scary as it was for the Eskymos, who dropped a 68-48 non-league decision. Bell was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring a career-high 37 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Esky had no answer for the the Michigan Tech-bound Bell.

“Bell and (Dre’) Tuominen couldn’t have great games,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “They had to have average games, but one just went crazy. We kept Tuominen in check, but Bell hurt us the whole game.”

Tuominen, the senior and four-year starting point guard, finished with 11 points, 10 assists and four steals. Freshman Jason Waterman also scored 11 points for the Miners, who had a 34-22 rebounding advantage.

Senior Tyler Willette paced the Eskymos with 19 points and eight rebounds and junior point guard Ryan Robinette added 15 points.

Bell scored 16 quick points as Negaunee erupted for a 21-8 lead after one quarter. He had 22 points at halftime as Negaunee led 33-22.

“They took Dre’ away,” Bell said. “That was their main goal and that opened it up for me. This definitely was a good way for us to start.”

Negaunee coach Dan Waterman enjoyed watching his big man start his senior season with a bang.

“He signed early with Michigan Tech,” Waterman said. “He’s a heck of a player who has put a lot of time in. He’s solid.

“With two senior leaders like (Bell and Tuominen), it means we have to get more from some other kids. Somebody else must step up and tonight it was Jason (Waterman).”

Negaunee, which led 55-34 after three quarters, converted 24-of-59 shots (41 percent) with 11 turnovers. Esky made 19-of-44 shots for 43 percent with 14 turnovers.

Willette made 7-of-11 shots from the floor and Robinette connected on 6-of-9 shots with only one turnover. Hudson was pleased with that experienced duo and credited C.J. Barron for his spark off the bench with four points and four assists.

“He was our energy guy tonight,” Hudson said.

Esky’s 1-3-1 trapping defense was effective in the second quarter, but the Miners often were able to work the ball down low to Bell.

“You can’t get buried 21-8 in the first quarter,” Hudson said about the early deficit. “When you don’t shoot well, a lot of other things jump out at you. I still think we had a lot of positives tonight.”

Negaunee also made 15-of-22 free throws.

“We played 32 minutes with no lull in their energy,” coach Waterman said. “That’s hard to do with high school kids. We don’t have a lot of size with the exception of Trent, so we must out-work teams and out-hustle them.”

Esky, which won the jayvee game 62-53 and freshmen game 48-27, will host Kingsford Friday.

Negaunee  21 12 22 13 — 68

Escanaba 8 14 12 14 — 48

Negaunee — Anderson 1, Waterman 11, Ennett 5, Tuominen 11, Uren 3, Bell 37. FT: 15-22. F: 16. Fouled out: none. 3-point field goals: Waterman 2, Ennett 1, Tuominen 1, Uren 1.

Escanaba — Robinette 15, Barron 4, Deneau 2, Willette 19, Peacock 4, Lamb 2, Nash 2. FT: 9-18; F: 20; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Robinette 1.

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