MENOMINEE — The Escanaba Eskymos boys basketball team (6-2) took home a loss Friday night as the Menominee Maroons (5-0) shot their way to a 77-44 win in Menominee.

The Maroons collected an incredible 45 points on three-point shots alone, going 15-24 on triples.

Escanaba coach Scott Hanson — who stepped up in place of the absent Tracy Hudson — said it was some of the best shooting he has seen in his 25-year coaching career.

“In 25 years of coaching, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this,” Hanson said. “They shot as well as any team I’ve seen.

“They kind of jumped on us to start. The boys battled back in the first quarter, but they bumped it up again at halftime.”

The Eskymos, in addition to coach Hudson, were also without Trevor Brown. However, Hanson did not think those empty spots were to blame for the loss.

“I don’t want to make excuses at all, but the reality is they were better than us tonight regardless of that situation,” he said. “They played a really good game, and we weren’t able to match it.

“We ran into a hot team tonight.”

Hanson noted Colin Hudson’s 18-point performance, with four three-point baskets, as one of the good things from the game.

With eight games in the books, the Eskymos have reached the middle stretch of their season. With a game like this one under their belts, Hanson believes they will only be better because of it.

“It was a game I think will prepare us long term as we move on,” he said.

Nathan Howes, Lukas Weaver, Jared Hanson, Conor Smale, Adam Willette and Casey Bray all contributed points in addition to Colin Hudson’s 18.

Escanaba tapers down on action a bit for the rest of January. They play at home on Jan. 18 against Westwood and Jan. 22 against West DePere Wis. After that, they wait until Feb. 1 to play another home contest, a rematch against the Maroons.

Escanaba 8 12 12 12 — 44

Menominee 18 17 23 19 — 77

Escanaba — Hudson 18, Howes 6, Weaver 6, Hanson 5, Smale 4, Willette 3, Bray 2; FT: 4-7; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Hudson 4, Howes, Hanson.

Menominee — Bellisle 24, Waara 17, Schultz 12, Backer 11, Conway 6, Thuerkauf 4, Murphy 3; FT: 6-7; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Bellisle 5, Waara 5, Schultz 3, Backer, Murphy.