Daily Press file photo Escanaba senior Katey Lamb (24) looking for a passing lane during a game against Crystal Falls Forest Park on Dec. 16th, 2024 at Escanaba High School.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba girls had issues with Kingsford’s zone defense here Friday night in a 45-29 basketball loss to the Flivvers.

Esky, which had won three straight, fell to 3-3 after their Great Northern Conference opener. The Flivvers improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the GNC.

“I’m super proud of the effort,” Kingsford coach Ginger Moore said. “The girls executed and worked super hard. We made some strides learning and growing as a team.”

Esky trailed 21-19 at halftime, then tied the score on a putback by senior Grayson LaMarche 65 seconds into the third quarter.

A layup by senior Anna Bortolini gave Kingsford a 23-21 lead midway through the third and junior Cassie Olson’s putback made it 25-21.

Senior Emerson Salo drained a 25-foot jump shot from the left wing to bring Esky within 25-24 late in the third.

The Flivvers responded with 15 unanswered points, gaining a 40-24 cushion on 12-foot set shot by Olson with 5:20 left in the contest.

Cold shooting and turnovers compounded Esky’s problems as it finished 11-of-54 from the floor and had 27 miscues.

Salo’s 22-foot jumper brought Esky within 40-27 with 3:39 left to play. The Eskymos, however, managed just two points through the remainder of the game.

The Eskymos started the week with a 76-55 victory over Crystal Falls Forest Park Monday and won 47-25 at West Iron County Thursday.

“We had a good week,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “We had two good games. Fatigue may have set in, although I think Kingsford was on top of its game tonight. Their pressure really bothered us which is a credit to their players and coaching staff. I think the girls understand it was Kingsford’s night and wasn’t our night. Kingsford is quick off the dribble. They also beat us off the dribble.”

The Flivvers led 12-11 after the first quarter and opened with second with a 7-0 run, taking a 19-11 lead on Bortolini’s lay-in three minutes into the second.

Esky trailed 21-15 late in the second before LaMarche sank a jumper from the boulevard and converted an offensive rebound into a layup to shave its halftime deficit to two points.

LaMarche led the Eskymos with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Salo added nine points and senior Clara Braun collected six steals.

Olson scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter. Bortolini also finished with 12 points and freshman point guard Aubrie Moore had eight.

“We felt pretty good at halftime,” Hudson said. “I thought we were going to flip the switch. I thought Bortolini played a good game. She hit some good shots and we knew about the Moore girl. She (Moore) made some good passes. Olson was the x-factor. We didn’t see that coming. I thought they played a good game.

“This is not the way to start the GNC, but we have to put this behind us. We have three tough games right after the holidays. We have to get ready for those. I believe in our girls. We’re going to try to execute our game plan.”

The Eskymos visit Gladstone Jan. 2, then host Marquette Jan. 7 and travel to Kingsford Jan. 9.

Kingsford, which committed 19 turnovers Friday, goes to Marquette Jan. 3.

“We had too many turnovers,” coach Moore said. “We talk about it in every game. You want to execute on defense, but don’t want to come up empty when you get a turnover. We have a young team that’s kind of green behind the ears. Although, I thought Cassie and Kailey (Sundquist) hit the boards hard.”

Kingsford 12 9 8 16 — 45

Escanaba 11 8 5 5 — 29

Kingsford — Kriegl 2, Moore 8, Kowalski 7, Sundquist 3, Bortolini 12, Olson 12, Normand 1. FT: 5-12; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Moore, Olson.

Escanaba — Salo 9, LaMarche 10, Lamb 4, Miron 2, Bray 4. FT: 4-4; F: 18; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Salo 3.