Basketball

Boys

Escanaba at Traverse City Central

TRAVERSE CITY — It was nearly a clean sweep for the Escanaba boys basketball teams Saturday at Traverse City Central. Esky varsity earned a 53-42 win. The freshman also pulled out a win, but the JV were edged by TCC.

“To get up at four o’clock in the morning and travel four or five hours on the bus and get a win, I think it shows a lot of mental toughness,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “Being able to keep their concentration and being able to play at 11:30 in the morning. I think it was a good step in our mental development. Like: ‘hey, we got up at four in the morning, and we played against a really good team. And, we found a way. I was very proud of them.

“They were a very imposing team, but we held our own. It was just kind of back and forth. We got a little separation at the half, but it was a lot of jostling and double fouls. I thought Trevor Brown and Carter Hudson held their own. They were kind of the targets of the physical play. I think they did a really good job.

“The key for us was just the second half, the defense and the rebounding. I just think we went and played a very physical team and matched their play.

“It was a confidence booster for us, and we were carrying the flag for our conference and the U.P.”

Escanaba 14 13 14 12 — 53

TCC 13 9 12 8 — 42

Escanaba — Victorson 12, Carter Hudson 11, Colin Hudson 11, Frazer 6, Smale 4, Maki 4, Hanson 3, Brown 2; F: 12; Fouled out: none; FT: 9-16; 3-point field goals: Victorson 2, Smale 1, Colin Hudson 1, Carter Hudson 1, Hanson 1.

Big Bay de Noc at Mid Peninsula

ST. NICHOLAS — The Mid Peninsula boys picked up their first victory this season in a 47-17 conquest of the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears here Tuesday night.

The Wolverines led 15-5 after the first quarter of the non-conference contest.

“We played pretty good basketball tonight,” said Mid Pen coach Mark Branstrom. “We had a terrible game over a Engadine (in a 55-20 loss Thursday). “Once Michael (Englund) went down with his arm, we got pounded. We did a little better tonight. The offense was a lot better. Basically, we played man-to-man all night and it was the defense and the hustle that made the difference.

Nick Temple scored 15 points and Brad VanDamme added 12 for the Wolverines. Joel Gillespie led Big Bay with seven.

Mid Pen held a 31-27 rebounding edge. The Wolverines committed 10 turnovers and hit 18-of-53 field goals. The Black Bears had 18 miscues and were 6-of-39 from the field.

The Wolverines host Stephenson Thursday. The Black Bears host Hannahville Thursday.

Big Bay 5 4 2 6 — 17

Mid Pen 15 6 7 19 — 47

Big Bay de Noc — Gembel 4, Johnson 4, McPhee 2, Gillespie 7. FT: 3-9; F: 6; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Johnson, McPhee.

Mid Peninsula — VanDamme 12, Richmond 6, McNally 2, Lofquist 7, Temple 15, Cretens 2, Constantino 3. FT: 2-2; F: 15; Fouled out: Temple 3, VanDamme 2, Richmond 2, Lofquist, Constantino.

Girls

Menominee at Bark River-Harris

HARRIS — The Menominee girls proved a tough match-up for Bark River-Harris here Tuesday night as they handed the Broncos a 67-42 loss.

Menominee (2-0) led 40-14 at halftime of the non-conference affair.

“It was ugly,” said BR-H coach Matt Richer. “Menominee is as good as advertised. They’re probably the best team I’ve seen in my two years doing this.”

Cara Zawacki led the Broncos (4-1) with 12 points.

“They came at us at all angles, their speed, quickness and overall strength,” said Richer. “They took it to us a little tonight. We couldn’t handle their pressure and press. They kind of steamrolled us and outscored us by 18 in the second half. It was pretty much decided at the half.

“We just couldn’t get rolling. We’d get an easy shot, and it just wouldn’t fall. It wasn’t our night. When you’re not making all your plays and going up against Menominee, it’s not going to be fun. I thought we’d give them a better game tonight.”

The Broncos host Carney-Nadeau Thursday.

Menominee 12 28 13 14 — 67

Bark River 4 10 11 17 — 42

Bark River — Zawacki 12, Frederick 9, Richer 7, Ives 5, Peterson 4, Berg 3, Roll 2; F: 4; Fouled out: none; FT: 7-10; 3-point field goals: Zawacki 2, Richer 2, Ives, Berg, Frederick.

Rapid River at Forest Park

CRYSTAL FALLS — Natalie Belanger scored 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Rapid River girls from dropping a 45-33 decision to the Forest Park Trojans here Tuesday night.

“We had several chances to overcome them, but everytime our momentum was building, we’d get the ball taken away,”said Rockets’ coach Scott Goodacre. “Several players chipped in tonight on the scoreboard. Our guards and forwards played extremely tough from a defensive standpoint. I’m extremely proud of everyone’s effort as we keep building on our season.

The Rockets (1-3) host North Central Thursday.

Big Bay de Noc at Mid Peninsula

St. Nicholas –The Mid Peninsula Woverines girl’s basketball team (2-2) defeated the Big Bay de Noc Black Bears 44-33 Tuesday night in St. Nicholas.

“We found a nice little combination in the second quarter and did a nice job,” said Mid Pen coach Phil Croasdell. “We kept plugging away, we got everyone in the game and got our younger players some playing time.”

Croasdell noted Ally Lancour’s performance, a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, as a highlight.

“The last few games she’s been on everyones best ball player,” he said. “She really picked her game up this year.

“It was an all around team effort. We showed up tonight.”

Mid Pen will host Stephenson on Thursday.

Mid Peninsula 7 16 12 9 — 44

Big Bay de Noc 10 4 7 12 — 33

Mid Peninsula — Englund 12, Lancour 12, Koski 8, Hemminger 6, Nummilien 2 Croasdell 2, Johnson 2; F: 14; FT: 11-17; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Englund

Big Bay de Noc — Pederson 12, Jones 8, Bleau 7, Nadeau 6; F: 13; FT: 5-16 Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Pederson, Bleau.

Bowling

Escanaba boys at Iron Mountain v. Westwood

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Eskymo Boys Bowling team defeated Westwood 37-3 to move to 2-0 on the season, last Saturday in Iron Mountain.

The Eskymos were led by Troy Delvaux with a 632 series that included a 244 game. He was followed by Hunter Lancour with a 226 game and 608 series.

Esky Boys B team also added another win by defeating Iron Mountain 35-5. They were led by Jordan Nance with a 203 game and a 529 series. Eastin Young was close behind with a 180 game and a 527 series.

The Esky Girls team kept it close but suffered their 1st loss to Westwood. They were led by Mara Liss with a 407 series and Abby Hill with a 385 series.

The Eskymos head to Ishpeming Saturday to take on Menominee.