Forest Park freshman Aiden Waldo (24) drives to the paint using a screen from teammate Kevin Giuliani (44) on Friday against Munising in Crystal Falls. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

CRYSTAL FALLS — At times the game was close but never in doubt Friday as the Forest Park boys varsity basketball team welcomed Munising to Crystal Falls.

The Trojans withstood multiple rallies from the Mustangs (5-1) and picked up a 62-56 win to improve to 5-0 on the season.

“This week was a big boy week for us, going to Menominee and having Munising come to town,” Forest Park head coach Jason Price said. “I respect the heck out of Munising, Terry (Kienitz) does a great job with his program. I respect those three seniors (Carson Kienitz, Trevor Nolan and Jack Dusseault). … We knew it was going to be a competitive game.

“I thought our guys hung in there. We defended pretty well on Nolan. Izaiah Tarter did a good job on him. But, they never go away. It was an exciting high school game.”

The Trojans went to work right away in the first quarter, using layups from Dax Huuki and Vic Giuliani to take a 4-0 advantage.

Munising managed to tie it at four, then the wheels fell off.

Forest Park used four points from Aiden Waldo and Kevin Giuliani to take a 13-5 lead into the second quarter.

“Aiden, I’ve coached since third-grade basketball,” Price said. “If you’re good enough to play on varsity, I want you up here. He came to everything this summer. I got to see what he could do. … He’s an offensive threat. He can just score.”

Dusseault connected on two 3-pointers early in the second, cutting the Trojans’ lead to three. The run woke Forest Park’s offense back up.

Waldo scored five points, Vic Giuliani pitched in four and Kevin Giuliani added two as the lead ballooned to seven points at halftime.

“Kevin’s a senior now, so it’s enjoyable to coach him because he’s doing the little things,” Price said.

Although Munising managed to keep Vic Giuliani under control in the first half, it didn’t have an answer for him in the second half.

“They got me the ball and I can get my teammates open, when I drive (to the rim),” Vic Giuliani said. “We changed up the game plan to get me the ball and create open shots.”

He recorded 10 points in the final two quarters.

“All week, it’s been about being patient and relaxed on offense, and moving the ball side-to-side,” Price said. “Vic (Giuliani) just kind of took over. He’s got a switch that flips and he goes into, I call it ‘Victor mode.’ He’s a tough matchup. Lefties are hard to guard.”

The teams traded baskets for the entire third quarter and the lead was narrowed to four. However, a Huuki pull up jumper from the left elbow pushed Forest Park back ahead by eight points.

Munising caught fire from 3-point range in the fourth, as Carson Kienitz began to unleash from the corner.

“The three-ball can keep you in the game,” Price said.

His final three of the game, cut the Trojans lead to three points with a minute remaining. Forest Park made 3 of 6 free throws in the final minute to secure the six-point victory.

Carson Kienitz led all scorers in the contest with 28 points.

Vic Giuliani led Forest Park with 18 points. He also racked up six rebounds and six assists.

The Trojans also received contributions from Noah Starr (2 points, 1 rebound), Izaiah Tarter (7 points, 3 assists), Huuki (8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists), Waldo (13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) and Kevin Giuliani (14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist).

Forest Park is back in action on Dec. 30 against Dollar Bay at Michigan Technological University in the Lakes Showcase.

“We have four days of practice, then we’re headed to Michigan Tech,” Price said. “This is a good group of kids to work with. They come to practice everyday, ready to learn.”

SENTINELS 67, MOUNTAINEERS 47

MARQUETTE — Entering the week, the Iron Mountain boys varsity basketball team knew it was in for a challenge when it headed north on Friday to face Marquette.

The Mountaineers (5-1) withstood the Sentinels’ assault in the first half, but they couldn’t overcome late foul trouble and Marquette (5-2) picked up the 67-47 win.

“It was a very good game up until five minutes to go in the fourth,” IM head coach Harvey “Bucky” Johnson said. “We had foul trouble all night. The kids played extremely hard. Marquette is a very talented, big and deep team. In the long run playing in a game like that will make us better.

“We got hurt in the paint and got out rebounded, that was a big difference in the game. I am very proud of my team for how they came out and competed.”

The score was tied, 30-30, at halftime. But the Mountaineers couldn’t withstand the foul trouble as seniors Oskar Kangas, Gerald Sampoll-Torres and Ian Marttila all fouled out.

Iron Mountain won the free-throw battle, finishing 11 for 14 while Marquette went 15 for 20.

Kangas led the Mountaineers with 15 points.

Iron Mountain also received contributions from Sampoll-Torres (12 points), Brayden Kassin (12 points), Marttila (5 points) and Evan Copley (3 points).

The Mountaineers are back in action at home Jan. 3 against Ishpeming-Westwood.

KNIGHTS 89, ROCKETS 41

RAPID RIVER — Cole Baij scored 22 points and AJ Gallino added 20 as the Norway boys varsity basketball team increased its win streak to three games Friday after topping Rapid River, 89-41, in a road Skyline Central Conference clash.

The Knights (5-2) went to work right away in the first quarters. Gallino connected on two 3-pointers, Mason Trudeau added seven points and Anthony Pineda scored six. As a result, Norway took a 19-8 lead into the second.

Rapid River’s best quarter was the second. It scored 19 points in the frame, but couldn’t slow down the Knights. Gallino had six in the second, Baij pitched in seven and the lead ballooned to 39-27 at the break.

The Rockets tallied 14 points in the final two quarters. Norway scored 50 points during that span and easily picked up the win.

The Knights received contributions from Bryce Adams (9 points), Pineda (14 points), Trudeau (12 points), Kaleb LaPine (4 points), Ethan Alessandroni (2 points) and Noah Pearson (4 points).

Norway heads to Crystal Falls on Jan. 2 to face Forest Park.