LaMarche Dominates As Eskymos Win In Overtime
Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Grayson LaMarche, Eskymo Coach Tracy Hudson, and Maroons Coach Lucas Chouinard.
ESCANABA---Grayson LaMarche scored a game-high 24 points, including 15 in the second half and overtime, to lead the Escanaba High School girls basketball team to a 48-40 win over the Menominee Maroons Monday night in Escanaba.
LaMarche, a University of Michigan softball recruit, had the best game of her senior basketball season, especially at crunch time. She scored the game-tying basket with 5.7 seconds left to force the overtime period, and then scored six of her team's nine points in the extra session.
"It was a wonderful win for our team tonight," Eskymo Coach Tracy Hudson said. "We played an excellent Menominee team and we knew it was going to be a cat-fight all night long, and it was back-and-forth. We were fortunate to win in overtime. The girls really executed, and we ran a set at the end of regulation that we've never run to Grayson. And that carried into overtime."
Hudson was impressed with how LaMarche played at both ends of the court.
"She had a tough (defensive) assignment to go against Gianna Coduti," Hudson said. "That wasn't easy. She's tall. She's long. Grayson ran the floor. She's a very good jump shooter. She can drive and she passes. That'sd what make Grayson hard to guard. She's a winner."
As usual, LaMarche deflected the praise to her teammates.
"The passing was amazing," LaMarche said. "Our team is very unselfish. We give the ball to each other really well. I just really had to focus on putting the ball in, and making sure that I wasn't messing up when I had the ball."
Menominee led in the first half, 17-11, and led, 22-19, at halftime. The Eskymos eventually got even in the fourth quarter, and it was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way, with the regulation 32 minutes not enough to solve the outcome of the game. It was a loud gym, with the Eskymo Pep Band playing and the student section being its usual loud, annoying self.
"They are a seasoned team and are definitely senior-led," Menominee Coach Lucas Chouinard said. "It showed in that overtime. They were a lot more composed and poised, and at moments, our youth definitely showed out there. It's a great learning experience for our girls to be in a game like this, to be in an atmosphere like this."
Coduti, who's older brother, Connor, plays across town at Bay College, led the Maroons with 15 points. Ava Chouinard, the coach's daughter, added 13 points as the Maroons fell to 4-5 overall, 0-2 in Great Northern Conference play.
Escanaba got a nice game from Clara Braun, who shook off a tough start shooting to nail the dagger triple in overtime. She ended up with nine points. McKenzie Engebretson contrbuted six points, including a couple of quick lay-ups in the first quarter.
With the win, Escanaba improved to 5-5 on the season, 2-3 in conference play.
