Hancock, MI – March 24, 2021 – The Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team defeated the Hancock Bulldogs in the second round of the district playoffs 53-48 on Sunny 101.9.
Listen to the full game here. (100 min.)
1st Quarter
It was an action-packed first quarter. Negaunee looked like they would run away with it early on as Lilly Nelson hit two three pointers to give the Miners a quick 8-3 lead. Things were looking good for the Miners, but Hancock would score six unanswered points to go up by one. Hancock’s defense was also strong. Their full-court press forced a few turnovers to stop the Miners’ momentum. Negaunee would get two more field goals, but they were answered almost immediately by a couple Hancock baskets. Hancock led 13-12 at the end of the first.
2nd Quarter
It was a solid second quarter effort from the Miners. Negaunee got the lead back early by scoring the first six. The Bulldogs would answer with a couple buckets of their own to cut into the deficit, but Negaunee would score another seven unanswered points to give them a little breathing room. Hancock would score the last four, but the Miners maintained their lead, and were up 26-22 at halftime. The Miners were led by Alyssa Hill, who finished the first half with 13 points. Isabella Hebert scored 11 for Hancock to keep them in the game.
3rd Quarter
It was a grit-and-grind third quarter, as neither team could do much on offense, but Negaunee was able to steadily extend their lead. At one point, the Miners were up by nine, their largest lead of the contest so far. Negaunee’s Morgan Carlson and Emilia Palomaki hit some key free throws in this quarter, and Hebert continued to find the bottom of the net for Hancock. At the end of the third, The Miners led 40-32.
4th Quarter
Negaunee scored three quick points to start off the quarter. This gave them an eleven point lead with about seven minutes left in the contest, yet the Bulldogs wouldn’t go down without a fight. Maari Brey hit a three and then scored again inside to get Hancock within six. The teams would continue to trade baskets for a while. Finally, Alyssa Hill made a game-clinching shot to put the Miners up seven with 17 seconds remaining. Negaunee won the game 53-48. Hill was Negaunee’s leading scorer with 20, and Lilly Nelson ended the night with 11, as they move on to the district championship game. For Hancock, Isabella Hebert led the way with 19.
Final: 53-48
NEXT GAME: Friday, March 26th, against the Calumet Copper Kings. Tune into the Elder Agency Pregame Show with Jesse Anderson on Sunny 101.9.