Sports roundup: Esky hockey, Gladstone bowling and boys’ basketball all compete in weekend action

Escanaba junior Ben Sands (9) gets hooked while attempting to make a play on the puck during a game against Jeffers on Nov. 27, 2024 at the Wells Sports Complex in Wells. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)
ESCANABA –With Christmas and Kwanzaa said and done and Hanukkah still going strong area sports teams compete in weekend action.
Here what went down:
Escanaba hockey
The Eskymos ventured over a river and through some woods, but they weren’t heading to grandma’s house. Instead, they ventured to Alpena to compete in the 2024 Alpena Showcase.
Esky opened the action on Friday with a 6-2 win over Tri-Valley. Cale Carter paced Esky with two goals. Graham Johnson added a goal and two assists. Ben Sands earned two assists. Carson Hughes contributed a goal and a helper. Nolan Bink and Nick Martinson each tallied a goal while Alex Schwalbach added an assist. Cully Hayes earned 15 saves as the Eskymos out shot the Dukes 47-17.
Esky concluded its weekend action with a showdown against mighty St. Edwards from Lakewood, Ohio. Regulation and overtime wasn’t enough to determine a winner, but the Eagles outlasted the Eskymos to earn a 3-2 win via shootout.
Johnson earned a goal and an assist while Bink tallied two helpers. Hughes earned a goal and an assists while Owen Labonte earned a helper. Esky fired 39 shots on goal.
After eight-straight games away from its home ice, Esky returns for a pair of home games this weekend.
The Eskymos host Muskegon Mona Shores at 7 p.m. Friday and host Grand Rapids Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Gladstone bowling
The Braves earned a trio of victories on Saturday’s action in Iron Mountain.
Gladstone girls defeated a shorthanded Menominee squad 40-0. Brianna Wetthuhn led the a 205 series. Gladstone boys defeated Menominee 30-10. Senior and reigning state runner-up Matt Meyer fired a 236 game with a 426 series. Both teams improve to 2-2.
Gladstone’s X squad improved to 3-1 on the season with a 30-10 win over Ishpeming Westwood. Jamie Santos led the squad with a 255 series and Preston Veeser earned a 149 game.
Gladstone boys’ basketball
While the gap between Christmas and New Year’s Day may be boring to some, the gap means one thing for Gladstone boys’ basketball: Border Battle.
The Braves split weekend action in the 2024 Border Battle Holiday Tournament in Marinette.
Gladstone started with a 56-52 win over the host team on Friday night.
The Braves then suffered a 69-50 loss to Green Bay West on Saturday afternoon.
Lonnie Davey led the Braves with 25 points which saw him knockdown three of his four 3-pointers in the first quarter. Alex Prins earned eight points.
Gladstone (2-5) returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday for a road clash against Gwinn.