Taylor Gauthier hits late free throws to lead Escanaba girls basketball team past Negaunee, 38-37
NEGAUNEE — Taylor Gauthier scored her only two points of the game with 20 seconds left by hitting both ends of a one-and-one free-throw situation to lift Escanaba to a 38-37 victory over Negaunee in girls basketball action Tuesday night.
“She missed two free throws in the third quarter,” Esky coach Mike Beveridge said about Gauthier. “She stepped up calmly to the free-throw line and made the first one and made the second one.”
Playing at Lakeview Memorial Gym, Gauthier’s late heroics overshadowed the Miners’ Aleda Johnson, who scored a game-high 17 points.
Jenny Brandt paced the Eskymos with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
After Esky (2-1) established a 10-5 lead after one quarter, Negaunee (2-1) came back to take a 20-17 advantage at halftime.
The Miners, who won the JV game 51-30, face a tough challenge playing at Houghton on Friday night.
Westwood 39, Menominee 28
At Westwood, the Patriots held Menominee without a point for the first seven minutes of the second quarter to establish a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We kind of jumped out to a big lead, and that’s something we’re not used to,” WHS coach Kurt Corcoran said. “Our defense definitely clamped down in the second quarter.”
After an 8-8 standoff through one quarter, the Patriots (1-1) scored 13 unanswered points to take a 21-8 lead. Then the Maroons hit 2- and 3-pointers in the final minute of the first half to pull within 21-13 at the break.
Westwood upped the lead to as many as 13 points again in the second half.
“We’ve talked about putting games away by taking good care of the ball and taking good shots,” Corcoran said.
The coach was also happy with his team’s 31 rebounds, considering Menominee had a size advantage at nearly position, he said.
The Pats’ Elizabeth Farley led all players with 12 points, while teammate Paige Rivard added 10. Despite not scoring, Marissa Carello pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while Madi Koski contributed seven points and six assists.
Westwood, which won the JV game 40-22, remains home to face L’Anse on Thursday night.
North Dickinson 55, Republic-Michigamme 36
At Republic, freshman Tailyn Raisanen led the Hawks (0-3) with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
R-M coach April Radcliffe felt her team is making progress with a young lineup.
The Nordics led 10-6 after one quarter before opening up a 31-19 lead by halftime. R-M held a 12-10 advantage in the third to cut the deficit to 41-31.
R-M’s Shawn Dumoulin scored 10 points, while the Nordics were led by Samantha Borvan with 20.
ND won the JV game 57-14.
Up next for R-M is another home game against Mid Peninsula on Friday night.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee with contributions from the Escanaba Daily Press. Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.