Houghton's Pablo Salgado (22) puts up a shot in front of Escanaba's Carter Hudson (24) and Colin Hudson (40) on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — A rangy Escanaba High boys basketball team had enough to hold on for a hotly contested 71-67 win over Houghton Thursday night.

Escanaba coach Tracy Hudson knew his team had all they could handle in Gremins’ scoring ace Brad Simonsen.

“We knew exactly what we had to do against them (Gremlins),” Hudson said. “We had to hold down Brad (Simonsen) and (Pablo) Salgado. But Brad is such a fluid shooter and scorer. We had a special plan for both of them. But it was a battle all the way.”

Simonsen accounted for a game-high 41 points, nailing 15-of-16 tries at the free throw line. The 6-foot-6 senior also dropped in six three-point baskets along the way in the splendidly played contest.

But the Eskymoes had a sharp shooter of their own in senior guard Peyton Fedell, who knocked down seven treys in a 29-point performance of his own.

HHS coach Jared Lawson gave the invaders credit for coming in and holding their own in a tough environment.

“Escanaba has a very balanced team, they have five guys who can go out there and score,” Lawson said. “And they use their good size to advantage around the basket.”

The Eskymoes trotted out a team that included a 6-7 center in Carter Hudson and three others in the 6-2 to 6-5 range.

But it was 6-foot guard Brandon Frazier who provided the finishing touches on the win by putting in six free throws in the final period.

“Brandon was the guy Houghton kept putting at the line,” coach Hudson said. “He’s a pretty cool player under pressure.”

The Gremlins started out quickly with an 11-5 lead midway though the opening frame as Simonsen cashed in two triples.

But Escanaba embarked on a 10-0 run and held a 22-16 margin at quarter’s end.

Houghton took a brief 33-32 lead near the end of the period, but Fedell scored at the buzzer to make it 34-33 at the half.

The Gremlins led by as many as four points early in the third quarter, only to have EHS maintain a 51-50 spread going into the fourth quarter.

Simonsen sank seven charity tosses in the last period, while Dylan Primeau and Jordan Jurva knocked down big triples to help keep it close.

Salgado backed up Simonsen’s big game with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Simonsen grabbed 11 boards.

“Brad did a great job playing against some size tonight,” Lawson said. “And his free throw shooting was just great.”

In addition to the 29 points by Fedell, Esky received a fine game from Hudson with 19 points and 12 boards. Frazier added 11 points to the cause.

The Gremlins travel to Marquette Tuesday.

Escanaba 22 12 17 20 — 71

Houghton 16 11 17 17 — 67

ESCANABA (71): Frazier 11, Fedell 29, C. Hudson 19. Maki 2, Smale 6, C. Hudson 2, Johnson 2. FT: 12-18. Rebounds: 32 (C. Hudson 12). F: 15. Fouled out: Smale. 3-point FG: Fedell 7, Smale 2, Frazier 1, C. Hudson 1.

HOUGHTON (67): Jurva 5, Simonsen 41, Salgado 18, Primeau 3. FT: 18-19: Rebounds: 31 (Simonsen 11). F: 15. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Simonsen 6, Salgado 3, Jurva 1, Primeau 1.