Escanaba junior Lennox Peacock (20) attempts a fade away jump shot during a Great Northern Conference boys’ basketball game against Kingsford on Dec. 6, 2024 at Escanaba High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Entering Friday’s Great Northern Conference boys’ basketball game Kingsford and Escanaba were in two different scenarios.

Esky was coming off its second back-to-back of the season after a 55-21 win in Bark River-Harris the night before. Kingsford was coming off a 10-day break after a 55-26 season opening win over Negaunee.

The fresher team ultimately won as the Flivvers toppled the Eskymos 73-47.

“We came out and we fought hard,” Esky coach Tom Gereau said. “Kingsford is one of the top teams in the U.P. and we’re still down some guys. I feel good about what we did tonight.”

The Eskymos showed an even fight out of the gate, even staking claim to an 11-9 lead in the first quarter. Then the turnover bug struck, and the Flivvers took full advantage.

And Gavin Grondin was the driving force.

The Flivvers finished the first quarter on a 14-2 run thanks to 10 of Grondin’s game-best 29 points to take a 23-13 lead to close the first quarter before taking a commanding 31-18 lead in the second.

“We know they’re really good and really talented,” Gereau said of the Flivvers. “They made their shots. We didn’t make all of ours.”

But Esky didn’t roll over. In fact, the Eskymos began to slowly climb out of their hole with a 9-1 spurt which featured 3-pointers from senior Nick Garcia, junior Lennox Peacock and sophomore Hayven Sandoval-Nolde to walk into the half down 38-27.

While Esky entered the locker room with a sense of optimism, the hole it dug itself in the first half proved to be too deep. The Flivvers opened the third frame on a 10-2 run to put the game out of reach.

The Flivvers improved to 2-0 under first year head coach Ben Olsen. While a 36-point GNC win is a lot to be happy with, there’s still room for improvement for Kingsford.

“I think we’re a little bit rusty. Shots weren’t falling like I think they can fall,” Olsen said. “Once shots start falling for us I think we’re more scary than we kind of already are.”

While the loss stings, the Eskymos still possess a positive record at 3-2 despite still not playing at 100%. Stevenson returned to the lineup early this week. Senior center Cody Noel remains out and was wearing a walking boot on his right foot on Friday.

Yet, Gereau still saw positives that couldn’t be represented on the scoreboard.

“Our effort and attitude has greatly improved from the start of the season,” he said. “We’re on our way. Once we get a few guys back, start getting more practice time and less game time where we can fix any issues that we have I think we’re going to start looking really good.”

The Eskymos host Norway at 7 p.m. Monday. The Flivvers stay on the road to face Ishpeming Westwood at 7 p.m. Monday.

Box Score

Kingsford 23 15 22 13 — 73

Escanaba 13 14 7 13 — 47

Kingsford — Olkkonen 6, Sundquist 2, S. Olson 2, Kriegl 9, Trevillian 2, Sleik 20, Buckley 3, Grondin 29; FT: 7-9, Fouls: 12; Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Grondin 6, Olkkonen 2, Kriegl 1, Buckley 1

Escanaba — Stevenson 17, Garcia 7, Peacock 12, Prey 2, Morgan 4, Sandoval-Nolde 5; FT: 6-9; Fouls: 10; Fouled out: none; 3-pointers: Peacock 3, Garcia 2, Stevenson 1, Sandoval-Nolde 1