Basketball

Boys

Norway at Rapid River

RAPID RIVER — A 13-point lead for the home team was too much for Norway to overcome, as Rapid River defeated the Knights 58-50 Friday night in Skyline Central Conference action.

The Rockets’ Mason Kudlick led all scorers with 21 points, while senior Logan Parolini netted 20 points for Norway.

“We dug ourselves in a giant hole early,” said Norway coach Jeff Gallino. “I thought they moved the ball well and were able to knock down shots. Our shooting woes continue. The open shot is there, but we just can’t seem to make them.”

The Knights scored 32 second-half points. Gannon Bray chipped in 10 points for Norway, while Max Lenaker added 12 for Rapid River.

“I thought our effort to get back in the game was incredible. Kids didn’t quit, but we just came up a little short tonight,” Gallino said.

The Knights slipped to 7-4 (7-3 SCC) on the season and travel to undefeated Bark River-Harris on Monday.

In the JV game, Norway defeated the host Rockets 52-44.

Norway 7 11 17 15 — 50

Rapid River 12 19 19 8 — 58

Norway — Amundson 9, Seat 3, Bray 10, VanHolla 2, Ortman 6, Parolini 20; FT: 14-25; F: 15; Fouled Out: VanHolla; 3-point FG: Parolini, Amundson.

Rapid River — Kudlick 21, Dawley 7, B. Lenaker 9, M. Lenaker 12, Platt 3, Dausey 6, Lundquist 3; FT: 7-12; F: 17; Fouled Out: None; 3-point FG: Kudlick 4, Dawley, M. Lenaker 2, Platt.

Munising at Superior Central

EBEN — Parker Maki and Kyle Frusti carried the Superior Central boys again here Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from dropping a 58-43 decision to the fourth-ranked Munising Mustangs.

Maki scored 19 points, and Frusti added nine, 24 hours after they did all the scoring in a 64-24 loss at Bark River-Harris.

Jesse Duran led the Mustangs (8-1) with 16 points. Sam Brown added 14, and Caden Kienitz had 13.

The Cougars (2-5) host Carney-Nadeau Tuesday. Munising travels to Engadine Monday.

Munising 23 17 4 14 — 58

S. Central 6 11 13 13 — 43

Munising — Sam Brown 14, Duran 16, Morrison 9, Simon Brown 3, Kienitz 13, VanZandt 2. FT: 4-10, F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Sam Brown 2, Kienitz, Simon Brown.

Superior Central — Maki 19, McLaury 1, K. Frusti 9, Z. Frusti 6, Koski 6, Cady 2. FT: 8-14; F: 12; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Maki 2, Koski.

Girls

Escanaba at St. Ignace

ST. IGNACE — Despite a probable career-high scoring performance from Nicole Kamin (35 points), the Escanaba Eskymos girls’ basketball team lost 68-64 against the St. Ignace (5-3) Saints in St. Ignace.

Despite being locked neck-and-neck at the half, the Eskymos stumbled in the third quarter.

It was a deficit they almost overcame.

“The girls never quit,” said Escanaba coach Mike Beveridge. “To be down 14 in the last quarter, they worked their butts off. I was proud of them.”

Escanaba was able to close the Saints’ lead down to just two in the closing minutes.

“Mari (Bink) took a three-point shot,” said Beveridge. “Had she made it, we would have been ahead. Then it went to the line. They ended up making eight free throws in the fourth, that sealed the deal.”

Kamin led the Eskymos in scoring with a probable career-high of 35 points.

“Nicole took charge of the game,” Beveridge said. “She had ten in the fourth, eight in the third, eight in the second and the rest in the first. She played very consistent basketball.”

Maddie Monkevich also put up 15 points for the Eskymos.

Escanaba plays Kingsford Tuesday in Kingsford.

Gladstone at Westwood

WESTWOOD — The Gladstone Braves girls basketball team fell just shy of a win Friday night as the Westwood Patriots took the matchup 45-42 in Westwood.

“We are a little disappointed about this one but we are also optimistic as we know we can be a lot better than what we showed tonight,” said Braves coach Andy Cretens. “In the locker room, we agreed that we cannot make excuses — we just need to get back to work and fix what needs to be fixed.

“I absolutely love the way these girls respond. Our Locker room culture and atmosphere has been something special this year.”

Westwood outscored Gladstone 15-7 in the first. The Braves never recovered.

“The slow start really hurt us,” said Cretens. “Credit Westwood. They brought powerful energy to start the game, and we failed to match it.”

Gladstone looks forward now to another busy week of basketball.

“Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn,” said Cretens. “Tonight was a great learning experience for us, and we are thankful for the opportunity to grow. We are looking forward to another fun week next week with three games on the schedule.”

Alaina Trudeau led the Braves with 14 points, and she was followed by Megan Crow iwth 12.

The Braves battle the Maroons in Menominee Tuesday while the Patriots host Gwinn.

Gladstone 7 10 15 10 — 42

Westwood 15 6 9 15 — 45

Gladstone — Trudeau 14, Crow 12, Van Ginhoven 4, Hall 4, Larson 4, Hanson 2, Bergeron 2; F: 14; FT: 4-6; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Trudeau 3, Hall.

Westwood — Prophet 13, Leece 12, Miller 11, Martin 9; F: 10; Fouled out: none; FT: 7-14; 3-point field goals: Leece 3, Prophet 1. F:10; FT: 7-14; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Leece 3, Prophet.

Forest Park at Bark River-Harris

HARRIS — The Bark River-Harris girls basketball team jumped ahead in the first quarter and cruised for the rest of the game for a 53-18 win against Forest Park Friday in Bark River.

“We played really (well), and they’re a bit down this year,” Broncos coach Matt Richer said. “We didn’t want to play sloppy, and Cara Zawacki came out and hit three 3’s in the first.

“We moved the ball (well), and we played really good defense. It seemed like we were rebounding after their misses and getting some fast breaks.”

Richer was happy with the playing time he was able to give all his players.

“The second group did well,” he said. “They played 20 minutes, and the starters only played 12. Between Alaska Peterson and Tressa Ives, they played really good off the bench. I’ve been trying to get them to play more aggressive. It seemed like, tonight, they relaxed and started playing some good basketball.”

Ema Stepien led the Trojans with six points.

“The ball pressure was tough for us tonight, we couldn’t finding any rhythm offensively, said Forest Park head coach Kim Bjork. “We are going to keep working on improving”

The Broncos were led by Zawacki with 17 points and four triples.

Bark River, which won the JV game 59-23, travels to Iron Mountain Monday.

Forest Park 2 2 4 10 — 18

Bark River 20 16 16 1 — 53

Forest Park — Ema Stepien 6, Kudwa 3, Johnson 5, Mianecki 2, Peterson 2; F: 17; Fouled out: Divine; FT: 0-3; 3-point field goals: Kudwa 1, Johnson 1.

Bark River — Fredrick 2, Berg 2, Peterson 6, Lebeth 1, Zawacki 17, Cappaert 3, Ives 6, A. Richer 7, Erickson 4, Roll 5; F: 9; Fouled out: none; FT: 17-26; 3-point field goals: Zawacki 4.

Munising at Manistique

MANISTIQUE — The Munising Mustangs girls’ basketball team(2-6) got the better of the Manistique Emeralds (3-4) 37-31 Friday night in Manistique.

“Munising played a 2-3 zone, and it really hurt us,” said Emeralds coach Jenna Bradshaw. “They challenged us to shoot, and we weren’t able to capitalize. They definitely came out aggressive and knew how to pressure us.”

After two identical quarters from a scoring standpoint, the Mustangs led 18-8 at the half.

Manistique outscored Munising in the third 12-11. But the Mustangs had the advantage in the fourth 11-8 to take the win 37-31.

“I thought our defense looked good,” said Bradshaw. “We were getting steals, but we weren’t able to push a successful transition game.”

Manistique is slated to play St. Ignace in St. Ignace Monday while Munising plays Superior Central in Eben Wednesday.

Munising 9 9 11 8 — 37

Manistique 4 4 12 11– 31

Munising — Matson 13, Richardson 7, Prunick 4, Brisson 3, Mattson 2, Killips 2, Crisp 2, Smith 2, Johnson 2; F: 8; FT: 9-13; Fouled out: Prunick; 3-point field goals: Brisson, Matson.

Manistique — Swanson 10, St. John 8, Kingren 5, Allor 2, Fleck 2, Santi 2, Muth 2; F: 13; FT: 3-4; Fouled out: None.