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Eskymos Hold Off Braves To Win Girls District Title
 GLADSTONE---The Escanaba High School girls basketball team made a big run in the third quarter Friday night and held off the Gladstone Braves down the stretch to win the Division Two district championship, 52-48. It was Escanaba's third win over Gladstone this season, all of them by single digits. This one sends the Eskymos to the regionals, and it ended the Braves' Cinderella playoff run.  The Braves closed to within 37-33 but freshman Mari Bink knocked down a huge triple with one second left in the third quarter to give Escanaba a 40-33 lead. Senior Taylor Ray started the fourth quarter with a triple to ignite a 7-2 spurt that put the Eskymos ahead, 47-35, with five minutes left in the game. The Gladstone girls, just as they did in their massive upset win over Menominee in the first round, had a big run in them. Seniors Andie Balenger and Maddie Ahlgren knocked down but three-pointers, with Ahlgren's triple bringing Gladstone to within 49-47 with1:11 left. The Braves, however, could not score another basket, and the Eskymos knocked down just enough free throws in the final minute to secure the victory. Megan Crow had 14 points and Ahlgren added 13 (seven in the fourth quarter) to lead the Braves, who won two playoff games after a rough 7-13 regular season. Nicol Kamin led Escanaba (13-7) with 15 points. Maddy Monkevich had three big triples and finished with 11 points. Ray added ten points and Bink chipped in eight. Escanaba will face Sault Ste. Marie in the regional semifinals on Tuesdsay, after the Blue Devils knocked out Kingsley on Friday, 58-43. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Brenda Crow.  |
