“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg Daily Press The Escanaba girls basketball team celebrates Keira Maki scoring her 1000th career point during the second quarter of a game against Gwinn on Feb. 5, 2024 at Escanaba High School.

ESCANABA — With 4:26 to go in the second quarter, Escanaba senior Keira Maki stepped to the free throw line.

The Eskymmo forward already netted 12 points at the time she stepped to the line. Her first free throw was successful, her point total on Tuesday climbed to 13 points and pushed Esky’s lead to 19-12.

More importantly, it was her 1000th career point.

“It’s unreal,” Maki said. “You don’t really go into varsity as a sophomore and think you’re going to score 1,000 points. You just have fun. I was lucky enough to have a great team, some amazing coaches and teammates.”

Maki finished with 30 points in the Eskymos’ 63-31 win over Gwinn to improve to 8-7 on the season.

“We did what we had to do,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “We moved over .500. It’s not easy. We’ve got a tough stretch coming up.”

The Eskymos came out firing early and often to start Tuesday’s non-conference showdown. Maki netted eight points, and junior Grayson Lamarche, who was bottled to one point in a 49-46 loss to now No. 3 Houghton, went 4-of-4 from the free throw line for a 14-4 advantage after one quarter.

After a steal from junior Natalie Beauchamp led to Maki pulling to within three points of her career milestone, Gwinn began to find an answer. This came in the form of an 8-2 run to pull to 18-12 with 4:47 to go.

Then Maki made history, and the Eskymos pulled away.

The orange and black finished the second stanza on a 9-4 run with contributions from junior Brooke Miron, senior Morgan Maki and five points from Keira Maki, who closed the Eskymos’ offensive rush with a steal turned into a layup to help claim a 27-16 lead at intermission.

The Eskymos then outscored the Modeltowners 18-7 in the third quarter for a 45-23 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Hudson decided to give four players a crack at the starting lineup on Tuesday. Senior Ashley Foust and juniors Ashley Hubert, McKenzie Engebretson and Miron got the nod to go with Keira Maki.

Keria Maki also earned a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 30 points while adding six steals, four blocks and three assists. Beauchamp added four boards and a pair of helpers to go with two points. Engebretson totaled six points, four assists, two steals and a rebound.

All 12 players who touched the floor for Esky scored at least two points.

“Every girl contributed tonight,” Hudson said. “They all contributed in one way or another. It gets their feet a little wet. Giving somebody confidence in a game situation… I think it’s a good thing.”

However, Tuesday’s win wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the orange and black. Lamarche exited the game with 1:40 remaining in the first quarter due to an injury to her right ankle.

No immediate update was available at the time of publication.

“I thought we were going to get Grayson back on track tonight. We were going to get momentum and be riding high. Now I have a lot to think about,” Hudson said. “She’s such an integral part of our offense and our team. (Lamarche and Keria Maki) are our dynamic duo, Now we don’t have one. Injuries are part of the game.

“Last thing I said (to the team) was ‘hey, great win, but everybody’s gotta be ready to step up for the rest of the week.”

The Eskymos trip to face Kingsford at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Calumet at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Box Score

Escanaba 14 13 18 18 – 63

Gwinn 4 12 7 8 – 31

Escanaba: K. Maki 30, Engebretson 6, Foust 4, Lamarche 4, M. Maki 4, Miron 4, Salo 3, Hubert 2, Braun 2, Lamb 2, Bray 2; FT: 8-11; Fouls: 16; Fouled out: none; 3-pointers: Salo 1

Gwinn: Delmont 12, Olson 9, Schiefel 5, Nix 2, Derwin 2, Shepherd 1; FT: 12-17; Fouls: 10; Fouled out: none; 3-pointers: Olson 1