02/19/15 Negaunee, Michigan – The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team was at home tonight to host the Marquette Redmen. Carl Leander Johnson, the voice of the Negaunee Miners and Jesse Anderson were there to bring you all the exciting action on Sunny.FM.
Marquette would start this game the same way they did in the first meeting between these teams back on December 18th: With a Connor Brazeau three-pointer. What was different about this time around, though, the Miners struggled out of the gate, allowing Marquette to start the game on an 8-2 run with a few early turnovers by the home team. In what would prove to be a game of runs, the Miners went on their first of them, going on a 14-5 run to end the first quarter. Rob Loy his a crucial three, while Jay Lori & Dre Tuominen ran the pick & roll to perfection leading to some nice passes from the sophomore to the juniors Jay & Ben Luke.
Negaunee started the second quarter strong scoring a quick four points to lead 20-13, continuing their 18-5 run. 6’10” Vejas Grazulis gave Marquette their first points of the quarter by hitting two free throws to pull back within five halfway through the quarter. As we said before, it was a game of runs. The Redmen finally got some points out of guys not named Brazeau or Grazulis, and went on a 9-0 run near the end of the half, before the Miners would score five straight points going into the break, leading 25-22.
The Redmen were first to score in the second half with a three point shot from senior Brett Beauchamp and tied the score at 25. Dre Tuominen would come alive in the third, using his explosive speed to score two quick buckets for the Miners to push their lead back to four. Marquette answered back with another Beauchamp three point, as he would go from no points in the first half, to finishing the game with an impressive 14. Rather than going on runs, the two teams traded blows the rest of the way in the third, with the Redmen eventually taking a 32-31 lead with about 90 seconds left in the quarter, but Negaunee would score the last bucket in the quarter to take a one point lead going into the final frame.
Marquette took the lead a minute into the fourth quarter on a big three-pointer from sophomore Garrett Finkbeiner to take a 36-34 lead, their biggest since being up 8-2. Rob Loy wasn’t about to let Marquette come into his house in his last game against Negaunee’s biggest basketball rival and take away the trophy Negaunee’s had the past few years, and answered back with a huge three of his own to give Negaunee the lead. A lead they wouldn’t give up the rest of the way. After trailing 36-34, Negaunee went on a 12-0 run with some great post defense and a “run ‘n gun” offense that propelled the Miner to their eventual victory. Junior forward Dylan Tasson who usually contributes with his efficient three-point shooting ability, not only covered Grazuliz and didn’t allow a field goal in the second half, also made some great cuts and post moves to push the Miners to the win whenever Marquette tried to get back into it. Negaunee would close the game on a 22-8 run in the final six minutes and take home The Victor’s Cup over the #2 team in the U.P. polls!
The Negaunee Miners defeated the Marquette Redmen (56-44) on Sunny.FM.
The Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team will travel to West Ishpeming, Michigan to face the Westwood Patriots tomorrow February 20th, 2015. Join Carl Leander Johnson, the voice of the Negaunee Miners and Jesse Anderson for all the exciting basketball action. The Honor Credit Union Pre-game show will start around 7:00pm and the game will follow at 7:30pm on Sunny.FM.
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