Negaunee, MI – January 21st, 2022 – The Negaunee Miners boys basketball team continued their season tonight with a contest against the Westwood Patriots, the second contest between the two schools this season. The game was broadcasted on Sunny 101.9.
1Q: The Westwood Patriots started the game off with an empty possession after milking 60 seconds off the clock, quickly the other way, Negaunee scored on their first shot of the game. Jace Turri knocked down another on the next offensive possession after Westwood remained scoreless, Miners led 4-0 two and half minutes into the contest. The Patriots just couldn’t put the ball into the hoop as they continued to milk time off the clock without scoring in the process. Brody Bell got onto the board on back to back possessions as the Miners got out to an 8-0 lead. With just under two minutes left in the opening quarter, Westwood finally scored their first points, thanks to a triple from Zach Beckman. Just before the quarter ended, both teams picked up their sixth foul meaning both teams would be in the bonus for the remainder of the half. After picking up a few free throws late, the Miners led 13-6 heading into the second quarter.
2Q: The Miners opened the quarter with an alley-oop layup to take the eight point lead, as the Patriots came up empty on their first possession of the quarter. The next few minutes would be uneventful for both teams, as turnovers and missed shots littered the court. With three minutes left in the half, the Patriots cut the deficit to six, as Negaunee answered right back with a bucket of their own. Zack Beckman picked up his 3rd foul of the game on the other end, as he was called on an offensive charge. Gavin Downey knocked down a free throw to take a nine point lead, with a minute and half left in the half. The nine point lead stayed to the half, as the Miners led 21-12 heading into the locker room.
3Q: The Patriots started the half with the basketball as the possession came up empty. The Miners started their offensive possession with a basket from Mason Sager, giving his team the 23-12 lead. Carlson connected at the free throw line for the Patriots, but Mason Sager continued to score buckets for Negaunee. An uneventful few minutes trickled by midway through the quarter, with just under three minutes to play in the 3rd quarter, the Miners led 31-18. The Patriots had several chances at some open shots late in the quarter, but they just wouldn’t fall. A few turnovers late would end the quarter with no scores, Negaunee led 31-20 heading into the 4th quarter.
4Q: The Miners started the quarter with a bucket, extending the lead to thirteen. The Patriots ended up turning the ball over on their first offensive possession, and Negaunee scored another bucket on the next possession, taking the 35-20 lead. Zack Carlson finally started to heat up for Westwood as he knocked down two triples on back to back possessions, cutting the deficit to nine. Just a few seconds later, Carlson connected on an old fashion three point play, scoring nine points in as little as 30 seconds. On the next possession, Westwood forced a turnover and connected on two free throws to cut the deficit to five, seconds later, a few more free throws from Westwood would cut the deficit to three. Thankfully the Miners stopped the bleeding as Brody Bell had a wide open layup to bring the lead back to five. Gerald Johnson from Negaunee then knocked down an old fashion three point play on the next possession to gain another eight point lead. The Patriots chances of coming back into the game slimmed, when both Zack Carlson and Marcus Boase fouled out of the ball game with under four minutes to play. There would be no scoring in the next three minutes as both teams missed opportunities at the free throw line, but with 20 seconds left in the ball game, Gerald Johnson knocked down two free throws to seal the game. Mason Sager would add insurance to win the game by a score of 51-43. Brody Bell earned the Player of the Game, leading the team with 15 points.
Final: Negaunee 51 Westwood 43
The Miners continue their season when they host the Iron Mountain Mountaineers on Tuesday, January 25th. The ball will tip at 7:15 pm as you can hear the broadcast on Sunny 101.9.
