CRYSTAL FALLS – On paper, Tuesday’s matchup between the Menominee Maroons and the Forest Park Trojans looked like a dream matchup.

But with 2024-25 dream teamer Vic Guiliani injured and other key rotation players out with illness, the Trojans couldn’t stay up with the Maroons as the visitors took over in the second half and sent FP to its first loss of the campaign, a 84-52 setback at Eddie Chambers Gymnasium.

Though the Maroons were shorthanded themselves with Division 3 AP all-starter Tanner Theuerkauf and honorable mention all-U.P. Dylan Beal both sitting out, they had an ace in the hole with Darrent Butler, who went off for 43 points.

The teams traded buckets in the first quarter, with Menominee (3-1) holding a 26-23 lead heading after eight minutes. The squads kept throwing haymakers in the second quarter which ended with the Maroons on top 51-40 at the break.

Forest Park freshman standout Lyle Price kept his team in range in the opening half with 17 of his team-high 21 points.

But in the third quarter, Menominee started to pull away for good, building a 68-49 advantage entering the fourth.

Forest Park (5-1) managed only three points in the final frame, while the Maroons posted 16.

Trojan junior Dax Huuki finished with 15, while Devin Koga added eight.

Forest Park heads to Munising tonight to face the Mustangs (3-2).

MENOMINEE (total points): Butler 43, Woods 11, Schultz 10, Jurkiewicz 7, Komp 5, I. Daigneau 4, B. Daigneau 2, Linsemier 2.

FOREST PARK (total points): Price 21, Huuki 15, Koga 8, Johnson 4, Brzoznowski 2, Gilmore 2.