Westwood, MI – December 28th, 2021 – The Negaunee Miners boys basketball team continued their season after more than a week off, when they traveled to Westwood to battle the Patriots.
1Q: The game opened with some missed opportunities for both teams as the first points were scored by Patriot Zach Carlson, knocking down a pair of three throws two minutes into the game. Moments later, the Patriots knocked down a triple from Zach Beckman. With five minutes to play in the opening quarter, Guard Gavin Jacobson scored the first points of the game for the Miners, but on the next possession, Beckman answered to give the Patriots a 7-2 lead. Beckman continued to dominate the opening quarter as he had an opportunity to score an old fashioned three point play, but couldn’t sink the free throw. With just under two minutes to play, Gavin Downey scored the second bucket for the Miners to cut the deficit to seven. After buckets from each team, it was the Patriots with a 15-8 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
2Q: A hot start from the Miners cut the deficit to three, thanks to Mason Sager and Gavin Downey. Beckman was able to score a bucket for the Patriots to take back a five point lead. The Miners had a great fight for a few minutes later in the quarter, as they were able to cut the deficit to one, but the Patriots were able to once again, lead by five. With just under two minutes to play in the first half, The Patriots were able to gain a seven point lead thanks to Zack Beckman, who scored 21 first half points. Heading into the locker room, it was the Patriots with a 29-23 lead.
3Q: The Patriots opened the ball game with two steals from Zach Carlson that led to four points, as Westwood took the ten point lead. Both squads went scoreless for the next three minutes, as finally both sides were able to score a bucket. With just under four minutes to play in the 3rd, Mason Sager had an opportunity for an old fashioned three point play, but couldn’t knock down the free throw. The Patriots then scored five points off back to back possessions as Beckman drilled a triple, and Carlson with a mid range jumper. The Miners trailed 50-29 heading into the 4th quarter, after being outscored 21-6 in the 3rd.
4Q: The final quarter started slow for both teams but the Patriots were able to get things going . Zach Carlson and Jerzee Karki fouled out with just under five
minutes to play, as the game started to get a little chippy as things came to an end. The Miners led a very strong surge late in the game, cutting the deficit by 11, but time would eventually run out. The Miners fell to the Patriots by a score of 66-50. Zack Beckman led all scorers with 25, thanks to his 21 first half points. Mason Sager led the Miners with 20.
Final: Negaunee 50 Westwood 66
The Miners will continue their season on Thursday, when they host the Marquette Redettes in their final game of the calendar year. The ball will tip at 7:15 pm, you can hear the broadcast on Sunny 101.9.
