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Gwinn boys go cold in 2nd half

Patriots can't overcome first half slump

Westwood's Jacob Adriano, right, takes a shot over the outstretched hand of Escanaba's Ben Willis during their high school boys basketball game played at the Patriots' gym on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo courtesy Sandy Maki)

GWINN — As well as things went for the Gwinn High School boys basketball team in the first half, they went that badly in the second half as Gladstone prevailed 83-47 on Tuesday night.

The Modeltowners raced to a 41-39 lead at halftime but suddenly went cold in the third quarter, scoring just six more points to fall to 1-10 overall and 1-7 in the Mid-Peninsula Conference.

“We came out, got an early lead and played really well,” Gwinn coach Jim Finkbeiner said. “That was probably our best half this season.

“Then they changed some things up with their press(ing defense) to start the second half. We just couldn’t hit a bucket and they were able to capitalize on their shots.”

Gwinn junior Tucker Taylor was the star of the night, leading all players with 32 points and 14 rebounds.

But with teammate Austin Forbes scoring 14 points, that accounted for all but one of the Modeltowners’ points.

Reece Castor scored 26 points to lead 10 Gladstone (6-3, 5-1 M-PC) players in the scoring column. Teammate Brad Spindler added 13 and Carson Shea and Rudy Peterson had 12 apiece.

The Braves also won the JV game 68-42.

Escanaba 56, Westwood 42

At Westwood, three Patriots hit double digits but it wasn’t enough for the Patriots to overcome the Eskymos, who improved to 8-1. Westwood fell to 3-5.

Pats’ head coach Chad Hewitt said a first-half slump proved too difficult to overcome.

“Our kids played hard and gave a lot of effort,” he said. “We had a bit of a lull late in the first (quarter) and early in the second that I think cost us the game. Other than that we played them bucket for bucket.

“We played well and righted the ship, it was just the few spurts in the first half that cost us.”

Escanaba led 18-10 after one quarter before Westwood was held to just six points in the second to give the Eskymos a 31-16 halftime lead.

The Patriots played Esky toe-to-toe in the second half, outscoring the Eskymos 13-11 in the third and also tallying 13 points in the fourth.

Junior guard Nathan Beckman led Westwood with 13 points, while senior center David Delarye added 11 and senior guard Ethan Burke 10.

Senior point guard Ryan Robinette paced the Eskymos with 16 points while junior forward Jared Nash added 15.

Escanaba won the JV contest 61-55.

Westwood has some extended time off, not playing again until traveling to Iron Mountain on Thursday, Jan. 25. Escanaba has a makeup game at home against Manistique on Friday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee and Journal Sports Writer Ryan Spitza. Email them at sports@miningjournal.net.

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