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Eskymos cagers make program history

With the Esky girls’ win over Ludington, the girls program earns its first regional title

David Bossick | Ludington Daily News The Escanaba girls basketball team celebrates with its MHSAA Division 2 Regional 9 Championship trophy after beating Ludington Wednesday in Houghton Lake.

HOUGHTON LAKE — The second half would not be a repeat of the first for Escanaba as it made program history with its first regional title.

“We didn’t think about this (at the) start of the season, but once you win one and people start talking … We didn’t have this focus at the beginning of the season,” Esky coach Mike Beveridge said. “I just wanted to get in and start playing. We noticed our last six games, we really started playing good basketball, and we knew we had a shot toward districts. Where we are, it’s hard to describe how wonderful it feels that we made history. These girls will remember this the rest of their lives.

“I just want to thank the families that have stuck with us through the tournament. I (want to) thank my girls — the girls that stayed with us. I’m so proud of them. They play so hard all the time, and they deserved it and earned it tonight.”

Ludington was able to cut a big second-quarter lead to tie the game at halftime, but the Orioles were unable to cut another big Eskymos lead in the second half as Escanaba won, 53-35, in an MHSAA Division 2 regional championship game Wednesday evening in Houghton Lake.

The Eskymos limited Ludington to just five field goals in the second half, and they worked their offense to earn the victory.

“After halftime, we put it together, played good defense,” Beveridge said. “We really worked hard on defense, and that helped our offense get going.

“It’s special (being able to rely on offense and defense). You rely on your offense to get 80 points. We didn’t get 80 points tonight, but our defense kept them in the 30s. We’re a well-rounded team. We do things well, and we play well. Some nights your offense might struggle, and your defense has to pick it up. We’ve been able to do that. Tonight was a good defensive win for us.”

Ludington began the game on a tear, opening with a 9-4 run over the early going. The Orioles were getting the ball into the post with RyAnn Rohrer finishing the play with seven first-quarter points. Keelyn Laird had four.

Escanaba came back, though. Behind future Grand Valley State player Nicole Kamin, the Eskymos finished the first quarter on a 15-2 run for a 19-11 lead after the first quarter. She had 10 points for Escanaba in the first quarter.

The Orioles were able to claw back into the game in the second quarter. Turnovers hurt Escanaba, and the Eskymos couldn’t take advantage of foul trouble by the Orioles’ Hailey Stowe and Annie Kline. As they sat with three fouls on the bench, Ludington was able to knot the game up at 21-21 by halftime.

“We had a nice start to the game, and then we let them back in,” Beveridge said. “We only scored two points in the second quarter, and I think we ended up tying at halftime. We didn’t play real well that second quarter, but we were still in the game.”

Ludington surged in the start of the third quarter, rattling off five straight points before Escanaba’s Carney Salo answered with a traditional three-point play.

Call hit the long three-pointer with 3:56 remaining in the third to give Escanaba the lead back.

The Eskymos went on a 14-0 run in the final 5:40 of the third quarter to take a 35-26 lead into the fourth. The Escanaba run continued with a basket on a dribble-drive down the baseline by Maddy Monkevich.

Ludington snapped the Escanaba run on a pair of free throws by Laird, but foul trouble again became a concern for the Orioles. Laird was called for her fourth with 5:43 remaining, and a handful of Orioles were playing with three fouls.

But it was all Escanaba in the fourth quarter.

The Eskymos were led by Kamin with 16 points while Salo had 15.

Ludington was paced by Rohrer with 15 points followed by Laird with 11.

The Eskymos won’t need to go very far for the state quarterfinal. They’ll be headed back to Houghton Lake Monday at 7 p.m. to face off against Portland.

“We don’t care (about who our opponent is),” Beveridge said. “We’re just going to come back on Monday to play, and hopefully, we’ll get one more.”

Ludington 11 10 5 9 — 35

Escanaba 19 2 14 18 — 53

Ludington — Laird 11, Rohrer 15, Stowe 3, Kline 3; F: 22; Fouled out: Kline; FT: 4-10; 3-point field goals: Stowe 1, Kline 1.

Escanaba — Barron 2, Kamin 16, Monkevich 7, Salo 15, Bink 9, Maki 2; F: 13; Fouled out: none;FT: 12-17; 3-point field goals: Bink 1, Salo 2, Kamin 2.

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