Esky (11-6) started on an 8-0 run until Ishpeming finally got on the board with a 3-point play by Emma Poirier just under two minutes in.

“I was really pleased at the things we were doing with the ball tonight offensively,” Esky coach Mike Beveridge said.

The Hematites (6-12) hung around, however, and trailed just 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Ishpeming inched closer just under a minute and a half into the second with a trey from Poirier to make it 21-18. Poirier then tripled again to cut the deficit to 23-21 with 5:28 left in the half.

Ishpeming's Kayla Koski, second from left, drives around Escanaba's Madison Monkevich, front right, and Maysie Lancour, left, as Escanaba's Taylor Ray, second from right, and Ishpeming's Emma Poirier, right, look on Thursday at Escanaba. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Justin St. Ours)

“I thought we had a good plan on spacing the girls out and getting some corner 3s and putting the right girls in those spots,” Hematites coach Ryan Reichel said.

Kamin then responded with an 11-point barrage over the next three minutes to give the Eskymos some breathing room.

“Nicole Kamin is a once-in-a-generation-type player,” Reichel said. “The last two years, we’ve had trouble matching up with her — she puts a lot of points on the board.”

Taylor Ray added 15 points and three triples for the Eskymos, while Mari Bink chipped in 12.

Poirier led the Hematites with 15, while Tia Mattila added 12.

Escanaba also won the JV game 38-18.