DOWN TO THE WIRE: Eskymos Stop Braves, 51-44

ESCANABA---When the going got tough, Jeny Brandt and the Escanaba Eskymos got going. After being hounded by an aggressive Gladstone defense all night long, and after she would argued being fouled all night long without many whistles, the 6-3 senior led her team from a late deficit and a 51-44 victory over the Braves Monday in Escanaba.

Brandt nailed a 25-foot jumper for a three-pointer late in the third quarter after the Braves had taken a lead, and then after Gladstone got the lead again late in the fourth quarter, Brandt stood her ground on the defensive side of the ball.

She blocked two shots and grabbed a pair of rebounds in those final two minutes, and made three clutch free throws.

The victory was Escanaba's second over Gladstone this season, after an earlier 57-51 win. Both times, the Braves had the lead in the fourth quarter before the Eskymos rallied at the end.

This time, senior Leigha Woelffer nailed a long three-pointer to give Gladstone a 44-42 lead with 1:50 left in the game. But the Eskymos pushed the tempo and sophomore Lexi Chaillier drove to the basket and scored, tying the game at 44-44 with 1:39 left.

The Braves came up court, and senior Alyssa Polley missed a three. Brandt got the rebound, and seconds later, Chaillier was driving to the basket again. She hit a bank shot off the glass to make it a 46-44 Eskymo lead, entering the final minute of the game.

Gladstone missed again at the other end, with Brandt getting the block. The Eskymos got it to Maddy Willis, who got fouled and made two huge free throws to make it a two-possession game.

The Braves would not score on their final two possessions, either, and Brandt went to the line two more times, making three of the foul shots.

Escanaba improved its record to 9-9 on the season, 3-4 in the Great Northern Conference. The Braves' record fell to 5-12, 0-7 in the GNC.

Woelffer scored 21 points to lead the Braves, with three triples. Escanaba got 12 points each from Brandt and Willis. Chaillier had nine points, and Taylor Gauthier chipped in with eight.

Escanaba celebrated its five seniors during a pre-game recognition on Senior Night: Brandt, Michaela Bougie, Carlee Forvilly, Maddie Theut, and Willis.

In the junior varsity game, the Eskymos outscored the Braves, 13-0, in the first ten minutes of the contest, and rolled to a 53-17 victory.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Mary Gauthier, and videos taken by Mike Dagenais.