SAULT STE. MARIE---The unexpected playoff run came to an end Wednesday night for the Escanaba Eskymos against an efficient and physical Cadillac Vikings team.
Escanaba lost in the Class B Regional championship game to Cadillac, 73-62, at Sault Ste. Marie High School. The Eskymos lost to the Vikings for the second straight season.
This time, the loss came as the Eskymos were hoping for their first regional championship since 1960. But three Eskymo players fouled out and the Vikings shot 35 free throws, compared to just eight free throw attempts for Escanaba.
Cadillac (17-8) led, 15-10, after one quarter, and the Vikings still led by five, 19-14, two minutes into the second quarter.
But the rest of the quarter did not go well for the Eskymos, as Cadillac went on an 11-3 spurt to lead at halftime, 30-17. Cadillac's lead grew to 15 points at 46-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Escanaba did not give up, despite severe foul trouble.
Tyler Skufca came off the bench to nail a pair of three-pointers, and the Eskymos closed to within nine points at 65-56 with 1:54 left in the game.
But with Sam Molnar, Tyler Hardwick, and Chris Rose all fouled out, the Eskymos were only able to get as close as eight points (70-62), and the season ended with a 13-11 record. Skufca led the Eskymos with 20 points.
Jake Rodman added 15 points, and Molnar added 14 points in his final Eskymo game.
Cody Kunnari scored 16 points to lead Cadillac into the quarterfinal round.
----Thanks to Ben Deatrick for the photos, posted above.
Escanaba lost in the Class B Regional championship game to Cadillac, 73-62, at Sault Ste. Marie High School. The Eskymos lost to the Vikings for the second straight season.
Cadillac (17-8) led, 15-10, after one quarter, and the Vikings still led by five, 19-14, two minutes into the second quarter.
But the rest of the quarter did not go well for the Eskymos, as Cadillac went on an 11-3 spurt to lead at halftime, 30-17. Cadillac's lead grew to 15 points at 46-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Escanaba did not give up, despite severe foul trouble.
Tyler Skufca came off the bench to nail a pair of three-pointers, and the Eskymos closed to within nine points at 65-56 with 1:54 left in the game.
But with Sam Molnar, Tyler Hardwick, and Chris Rose all fouled out, the Eskymos were only able to get as close as eight points (70-62), and the season ended with a 13-11 record. Skufca led the Eskymos with 20 points.
Jake Rodman added 15 points, and Molnar added 14 points in his final Eskymo game.
Cody Kunnari scored 16 points to lead Cadillac into the quarterfinal round.
----Thanks to Ben Deatrick for the photos, posted above.
