Maroons pull out late win, Esky falters
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ESCANABA -- A 10-3 scoring advantage down the stretch enabled Menominee to post a 41-35 girls basketball victory over Escanaba here Monday night, but there was a lot more that decided this gamet than that closing burst.
Give Menominee's defense a big share of the credit in this Great Northern Conference game, with Nicole Kamin and Lexi Chaillier getting 31 of the points.
The Maroons (9-2) began with a full-court press but switched to a 2-3 zone after Esky raced right to the basket in an 8-8 start. Menominee, which beat Marinette 59-43 Friday night, showed it can also slow the pace and still win.
"It was not pretty," said Menominee coach Lucas Chouinard, who was more than happy to claim a victory because they are not given away based on beauty.
"We did not do well on offense. I told the girls we have to hang our hats on something else. We played pretty sound defense in the second half."
The Eskymos, who converted a miserly 10-of-68 field goals, only managed 16 points in the second half. They trailed 21-18 at the intermission, but it was obvious their offensive struggles would likely play a major role in the outcome.
"Defense kept us in the game, but the offense had to do the rest," said Esky coach Mike Beveridge. "I was hoping they would press us, but then Nicole (Kamin) split them (early) and they packed it in."
The Eskymos (5-5 overall) have been unable to generate offense from the perimeter, relying heavily on break-neck coast-to-coast attacks on the basket by Kamin (16 points) and Chaillier (14 points).
But costly turnovers and countless missed layups foiled the Eskymos.
In defense of the missed layups, Beveridge pointed out "our layups were pretty contested. You are shooting through a forest. Our layups were missed, but they were in a lot of traffic."
That is where Chouinard's decision to abandon their normally effective nd efficient press and settle into a zone paid big dividends for the Maroons. Esky ran the floor well after collecting defensive rebounds but frequently could not convert the layup.
Esky also struggled with free throws, after doing well the past two games. The Eskymos hit 14-of-20, but Beveridge noted several were the front end of one-and-ones. "That is another two-point swing. They made theirs down the stretch (six straight and 8-of-9 over the final 4:28)."
Esky missed the front end of two bonus free throws for the game.
The Maroons also knew Chaillier and Kamin were the offense for Esky. "We didn't want anyone else to hurt us," said Chouinard, noting mission accomplished. "Our Achilles heel against Escanaba the last few years has been transition baskets. That was our focus (to stop that).
"Limiting their transition baskets was a key for us."
The Maroons managed to remain patient on offense, no easy feat when they are more up-tempo on both ends, and hit 15-of-59 field goals, with 6-foot-1 Emma Anderson getting 14 points – after scoring 31 Friday against Marinette. She also had 15 rebounds.
"They are used to being aggressive. To harness that for the girls is a little difficult," said Chouinard.
In the final 2:26, Anderson hit two free throws and scored from just inside the left corner arc, Erin Barrette had a steal and layup and Emma Hofer hit four free throws.
"We had two (key) turnovers on offense. (near the end). That is a four-point swing when you turn it over," said Beveridge. "Two lazy passes. The kids also had good looks but we couldn't get one to drop."
Menominee, which hosts Kingsford Friday, won the jayvee game. Esky visits Bark River-Harris Friday.
Menominee 15 6 6 14 -- 41
Escanaba 11 7 9 8 -- 35
Menominee – E. Hofer 10, S. Barrette 3, E. Barrette 7, Wellner 2, Anderson 14, Nolde 5. FT: 9-11; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals – S. Barrette 1, Nolde 1.
Escanaba – Monkevich 2, Kamin 17, L. Chaillier 14, Ray 2. FT: 14-20; F: 12; Fouled out: None.