SWEET REPEAT! Eskymos Win On Buzzer-Beater

GLADSTONE---The third time was the charm for the Escanaba Eskymos against the Gladstone Braves, for the secomd time in as many weeks.

The Escanaba girls knocked off Gladstone in the Class B District Tournament last week after losing to the Braves twice during the regular season.

Eskymos Get Championship Trophy!

And in Friday night's boys basketball contest, it was a case of rivalry deja vu as the Eskymos beat the Braves, 32-30, in Gladstone.

"What a battle," Gladstone Coach Dale Hongisto said. "Everyone's probably going to look at the score and say that both teams held the ball. But you know what happens in a game like this? Every possession counts so much that it slows everything down."

"You had a feeling that it might be like this after the last one," Escanaba Coach Tracy Hudson said. "I feel for Gladstone, but we've lost games like that, so it was nice to have one go our way."

Tyler Hardwick's rebound and basket won it at the final buzzer for the Eskymos, who had lost both regular season match-ups against the Braves (54-40 and 51-50).

Tyler Hardwick scored on a rebound at the final buzzer Friday to give the Escanaba Eskymos a 32-30 win over the Gladstone Braves in the Class B District Championship game in Gladstone.

The Eskymos advance to the regionals after losing twice to the Braves during the regular season.

Tyler Hardwick makes winning shot at buzzer

"Tyler is our defensive stopper," Hudson said. "He's guards the best players. He handles the ball. He's got a lot on his plate. Sometimes, it's not the most glamorous role, but he has really stepped up for us. On the last play, he used his 'vertical' for a great play."

This championship game was close the entire night, with neither team leading by more than seven points. The Eskymos led, 28-23, in the fourth quarter, when the Braves scored came back. Hunter Garling banked one home to tie it at 28 with 1:38 to play.

Hardwick answered for the Eskymos with a driving lay-up with 1:23 left, but the Braves retied the game at 30-30 as Tyler Wells scored from inside with 1:03 on the clock.

On the next possession, Hardwick missed the front end of a one-and-one, with Garling getting the rebound.

The Braves had 30 seconds left, and Hongisto wanted to go for the final shot. Point guard Justin Jurek was dribbling near the Braves bench with Escanaba's Sam Molnar guarding. Jurek dribbled the ball off of his foot, turning it over.

"We had an opportunity at the end," Hongisto said. "I had a time out in my pocket. Things didn't work out at the end, and that's the way it goes."

Tyler Hardwick wins it for Escanaba.

Hongisto was not placing any blame on Jurek for that mistake.

"Gus is such a great kid, a great teammate," Hongisto said. "I had a time out, and the last time we were in the same boat with these guys, and I remember calling it with 27 seconds (to go)."

"That was too much. I wanted something like 12 seconds, and it didn't work out," Hongisto continued. "I feel horrible for Gus. He can't be defined by that. He'll be fine."

Escanaba got the ball with 16.9 seconds to go. Chris Rose fired up a three-pointer that hit the rim, and Hardwick was there for the rebound. He turned, shot, and scored.

Hunter Garling scores late basket.

It was a buzzer-beater that gave Escanaba its second straight district championship.

"I can't even begin to explain this feeling," Hardwick said. "It's unbelievable. I saw Chris shoot the ball, and I looked up at the clock. I knew that if he missed, I might still have time to put up the 'put-back'. I got it, and I just turned around and hit it. I didn't even know it went in at first! I couldn't see it.

"I just heard everyone erupt."

"We gave up a second-chance opportunity there," Hongisto said. "But, heck, there's probably ten plays prior to that that you could probably change."

"We're fortunate," Hudson said. "This game could have gone either way. We had some calls go against us and I told the kids to not let that bother them. I'm just so happy for the kids and for how hard they've worked."

Hardwick led the Eskymos with 12 points and Molnar added eight, all in the second quarter.

Wells and Garling each scored ten points for the Braves, who finished 9-13. "I just feel bad for these seniors," Hongisto said.

"I've played in this (Gladstone) gym for four years now," Hardwick said. "It's always fun to play here because it's always an electric atmosphere. It was fun."

Escanaba (12-10) faces Cheboygan in the regional semifinals Monday night in Manistique. Cheboygan beat West Branch Ogemaw Heights, 66-58, on Friday.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/19	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	54 - 40 (W)	1-0

12/22	7:15 PM	Mid Peninsula Wolverines	62 - 47 (W)	2-0

1/3	3:00 PM	at St. Ignace Saints	64 - 62 (W)	3-0

1/8	7:30 PM	at Mid Peninsula Wolverines	45 - 41 (W)	4-0

1/10	3:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	27 - 48 (L)	4-1

1/12	7:46 PM	at Ishpeming Hematites	51 - 61 (L)	4-2

1/13	7:45 PM	at Rapid River Rockets	56 - 29 (W)	5-2

1/15	7:15 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	45 - 57 (L)	5-3

1/20	7:15 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	53 - 58 (L)	5-4

1/23	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	48 - 30 (W)	6-4

1/27	7:15 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	46 - 63 (L)	6-5

2/2	7:15 PM	Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	60 - 50 (W)	7-5

2/10	7:20 PM	at Marquette Redmen	24 - 46 (L)	7-6

2/12	8:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	48 - 58 (L)	7-7

2/17	7:15 PM	Negaunee Miners	45 - 55 (L)	7-8

2/20	7:15 PM	Menominee Maroons	43 - 49 (L)	7-9

2/23	7:30 PM	at Westwood Patriots	54 - 60 (L)	7-10

2/27	7:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	51 - 50 (W)	8-10

3/3	7:30 PM	at Manistique Emeralds	44 - 54 (L)	8-11

3/5	7:15 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	30 - 44 (L)	8-12

3/11	7:00 PM	Menominee Maroons	52 - 50 (W)	9-12

3/13	7:00 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	30 - 32 (L)	9-13