Escanaba junior Braden Cooper attempts to make a play at the basket against Manistique on Feb. 9, 2026 at Escanaba High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — A strong team effort led Escanaba boys basketball to a 65-55 victory over the Manistique Emeralds here Tuesday.

The Eskymos had four players in double figures as Braden Cooper had 16, Lennox Peacock added 15, Owen Fields had 14 and Beau Racine had 10 points coming off the bench.

“We played really well tonight,” Eskymos coach Jake Berlinski said.

The Eskymos jumped out to an early 8-0 lead as Fields scored a layup and Hayven Sandoval-Nolde and Lucas Hejmej each hit 3-pointers.

Peacock had back-to-back baskets after a 3-pointer by Manistique senior Alex Bonneau cut the deficit to three. Beau Racine muscled his way to the basket for a layin to extend the Eskymos lead to 16-7.

Bonneau knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 16-13 and a powerful move to the basket for the layin by senior Connor Tennyson put the Emeralds within one after the first quarter.

The Eskymos came our of the halftime break up 31-26. Fields hit a pair of 3-pointers and Peacock added one of his own to extend the lead to 10 at 40-30.

“My shot was feeling good tonight,” Fields said. “That gave me the confidence to keep shooting and it was a big win for us as a team on senior night.”

Later in the third quarter, Peacock knocked down a pair of free throws then scored a layup off a Manistique turnover to put the Eskymos up 45-34.

“I had a lot of memories on this court,” Peacock said. “Getting one last win on our home court before districts is big for us as a team.”

The Emeralds outscored the Eskymos 19-16 in the fourth quarter. Bonneau had seven of his 26 points in the fourth quarter but could not close the gap on Escanaba.

The Eskymos won the JV game 54-31 as Owen Tarnutzer scored 15 points and Andrew Hamlin added eight points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

“This game kind of felt like a trap game coming in,” Tarnutzer said. “With Menominee coming up its easy to start looking ahead but everyone came out focused and ready to play tonight.

The Eskymos who played at MenomineeTuesday night will be back in action Friday as they travel to Houghton.

Manistique 15 11 10 19 — 55

Escanaba 16 15 18 16 — 65

Manistique — Bonneau 26, Jackson 6, Pugh 2, Graphos 5, Tennyson 16. FT: 6-9; F: 9; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Bonneau 6, Jackson 2, Graphos.

Escanaba — Sandoval-Nolde 5, Hejmej 5, Peacock 15, Fields 14, Racine 10, Cooper 16. FT: 5-8; F: 13; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Fields 2, Peacock, Sandoval-Nolde, Hejmej Racine.