Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos from the game, and to hear post-game comments from Marquette Coach Rich Ledy, senior Halen McCollum, and Eskymo Coach Jake Berlinski.
ESCANABA---The Marquette High School boys basketball team took a while to get going Tuesday night, but gradually pulled away to an 84-44 Great Northern Conference victory at the Escanaba High School Gym.
The Sentinels led the Eskymos just 22-17 after one quarter, but held the Eskymos to five points in the second quarter in building a 43-22 lead at halftime.
“I thought all of our guys really stepped up and played well defensively, starting in the second quarter,” Marquette Coach Rich Ledy said. “The first quarter, we were kind of feeling our way, but fortunately, we made enough shots to stay in the game. But, I thought in the second and third quarters, we really set the tone.”
Marquette guard Halen McCollum did most of his best work in the first half, scoring 16 of his 19 points to help his team to grab that big lead going into the locker room.
“I felt good,” McCollum said. “I got a hot hand early, and I just kept on shooting it. Once I saw the ball go in, I just kept on shooting it. We just want to share the ball and get open looks every time, looks outside and in. It makes it easier because you're already squared up to the basket. So, just shoot it!”
It was a great game for Marquette's Brody Clements, who's older brother, Easton, played for two seasons at Bay College. The younger Clements led all scorers with 21 points. Connor Fierstine added 16 points for Marquette, which improved to 5-4 on the season.
From the Eskymo point of view, there were some frustrating moments, including the fourth quarter, which saw the Eskymos get outscored, 25-9. That turned what should have been a 20-point loss into a 40-point mercy-running-clock loss.
“We can play really good offense in spurts, and then we go flat, and that's what happened tonight,” Escanaba Coach Jake Berlinski said. “Then we went DEAD flat in the second and third and they pulled away. We have been working hard to try to fix our offensive problems. We're a work in progress right now. It's a long season. We'll get there.”
Hayven Sandoval-Nolde and Taylor Asgaard both scored 14 points for the Eskymos.
Escanaba was also on the court Wednesday night in Iron Mountain, and took another loss, 44-36, to the Mountaineers. Escanaba now has a 3-5 record, with a home game on Jan. 13 against the undefeated Westwood Patriots looming that night.
Marquette, meanwhile, has a big one of its own this Friday night, with a home game against the one-loss Menominee Maroons.
