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THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM: Eskymos Top Braves
 ESCANABA---It was deja vu all over again for the Gladstone Braves. One year ago, the Braves beat the Escanaba Eskymos twice during the regular season, only to see the Eskymos top the Braves in the district championship game. Fast forward to this season, where Gladstone won both regular season games against Escanaba, including one just ten days ago that really wasn't close.  Danny VanEffen scored 25 points and Tyler Willette added 21 as the Escanaba Eskymos beat the Gladstone Braves, 67-49, in the Class B district tournament opener Monday in Escanaba. Ryan Robinette added 17 points as the three boys carried the offensive load for the Eskymos. "We came out with a lot of energy," Escanaba Coach Tracy Hudson said. "You try something different (defensively) every time. Gladstone's whipped us both times. We found what we needed. We kept changing things, and we hit on something tonight. It was a great team effort. We attacked the inside." "I'm very happy with the kids." That "something" the Eskymos hit on was an aggressive 1-3-1 zone defense that gave the Braves fits for most of the night, along with a half-court trap and full-court press.  Gladstone led, 15-12, early in the second quarter, but the Eskymos scored the next 12 points to take a nine-point lead. That run included a slam dunk by VanEffen off of the ally-oop pass from Robimette, and an "old-fashioned" three-point play from Willette. Gladstone senior Phil Griffith came off the benchy for a basket and one, and Joe Gibbs nailed a three-point jump shot to bring the Braves to within 24-21 at the half. But the second half started well for the Eskymos as they forced a turnover on defense and Robinette buried a deep three-pointer to make it a six-point lead. "Hudson kind of gives me the green light , anywhere from 22 or 23 feet," Robinette said. "Just because I hit them in practice, and he says: 'you're a good shooter, you've got to shoot, you've got to drive, you've got to mix it up a little'. So, that's what I try to do."  "Last game, I came out really slow," Willette said. "I wanted to make an impact right away this game. Our team struggles when we start slow, so we wanted to start fast. That first shot really got me going. I was confident after that. I just wanted to take over, and it worked. Just driving to the basket, and find the openings. It worked out well." "I've said it all year," Clayton Castor said, "Willette, I think he is the heart and soul of their team. He does so many things outside of the stat line." Not so much for the Braves, as they could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way, despite a slam dunk by Gibbs. Reece Castor led the Braves with 14 points but had only three baskets. Gibbs had 11 points and Casey Wolf scored eight. "Escanaba's a good team," Clayton Castor said. "You've got to do more than just show up. You've got to bring your 'A game' and when they ran that 1-3-1, I just think we were too passive. We had to attack the gaps, make some pass fakes to open some things up for us. But it just didn't happen."  "It felt good to be able to play again this year," VanEffen said. "Especially to get that win against Gladstone, which I hadn't got at varsity yet." "I just had to work hard, push myself throughout the summer and spring, and be able to play football and then be able to play (basketball) with the guys. ACL tears are usually twelve months (recovery time), and I was able to do it in seven and a half, and be able to play and help the team." Gladstone finishes its season with am 11-10 overall record. Escanaba improved to 10-10 and will host conference champion Menominee in Wednesday's district semifinal game. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville, and to hear post-game interviews.  |
