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Surging Eskymos throttle Emeralds

MANISTIQUE — The Escanaba Eskymos confirmed a winning season Monday night when they defeated Manistique 80-58 in a non-conference boys basketball game.

The Eskymos (11-7) posted their third straight victory by vaulting to a 25-14 first quarter lead, then used their bench to keep everyone fresh and ready to go tonight when they host Gwinn.

“We got out and pushed the ball and attacked the basket,” said Escanaba coach Tracy Hudson. “We played a lot of kids because we want to be energized for tomorrow (tonight) night.

Tyler Willette had another stellar game, scoring 27 points on 10-of-10 shooting inside the arc and adding eight steals in less than three quarters.

Sophomore Jared Nash added a career-high 14 points and Ryan Robinette had 11 points and 10 assists. Terrance Butryn added seven rebounds.

Manistique coach Ed Marietti said the Eskymos “find Willette open and Robinette made some great passes underneath.”

Esky hit 32-of-54 field goals inside the arc and were 4-of-11 on triples. Esky held a 30-18 rebound margin and had just 12 turnovers.

“It was a total team effort tonight,” said Hudson.

Sophomore Ben Willis scored five points in his varsity debut. He will join the varsity again tonight, then return to the junior varsity for Friday’s game at Gladstone. “We want to get him ready for districts,” Hudson said.

Darien Nichols had 30 points for the Emeralds (1-17), who were minus two starters, Jake Arnold (flu) and Logan McPhail (injury). Manistique hit 22-of-48 shots and were 9-of-21 beyond the arc. The Emeralds had 20 turnovers.

“They played a 1-3-1 and we tried to set him (Nichols) up for shots at the elbow and from the top of the key,” said Marietti. Hudson said Nichols “got hot in the middle quarters and did a good job moving and got to some loose balls and got some transition baskets, the one area we didn’t execute.”

The Eskymos won the jayvee game 71-57.

Escanaba 25 19 14 23 — 80

Manistique 14 15 15 14 — 58

Escanaba — Robinette 11, Barron 3, Deneau 5, Willette 27, Peacock 2, Butryn 6, Nash 14, Popelka 7, Willis 5. FT: 11-19; F: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals – Robinette 2, Deneau 1, Popelka 1.

Manistique — Rice 1, Hoholik 9, Nichols 30, Armock 8, J. Seely 4, Pawley 2, Smith 4. FT: 5-6; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals – Hoholik 3, Nichols 4, Armock 2.

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