Negaunee, MI – December 19, 2019 – The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team trailed 5-4 very early in the game, and coasted from there off of a 18-1 first quarter run to win 68-48 over the West Iron County Wykons. Drew Lindberg shined early with 10 first quarter points, but Jason Waterman was the story tonight when he scored on a layup in the second quarter for his 1000th career point. Jesse Anderson was in Negaunee to call the action on Sunny 101.9.
1st Half:
The first few minutes of the game went back and forth, both offenses were clicking early. The Wykons weren’t wasting too much time, as they were shooting quick in transition after a Negaunee miss. Drew Lindberg scored five consecutive points to give the Miners an early 7-5 lead. The Miners began to surge after its shaky start, after another Lindberg 3-point shot, a Jason Waterman layup gave them a 12-5 advantage. Negaunee continued to pour it on with its full court pressure, and that led to baskets by Lindberg and Jakson Sager. The Miners scored 14 points in a row before Justin Nelson sunk a free throw for West Iron County to make the score 19-6. Waterman responded with a 3-pointer on the other end to extend the lead to 22-6. Negaunee took a 16-point lead into the second quarter.
End of 1st: Negaunee Miners 22, West Iron County Wykons 6
The Miners continued to torch the nets on offense, and led 28-11 with six minutes left in the half. West Iron County was having trouble with Negaunee’s defense, but they were getting good looks at the rim from Nelson and Peyton Williams. Though the Wykons had their struggles on offense, their defense on the Miners was the most concerning. Waterman hit a 3-pointer to boost the lead back up to a 20-point, 38-18 advantage. After both teams traded baskets, Waterman drove to the lane and scored for his 1000th career point! That wasn’t only thing that Negaunee had celebrate, as they held a 42-22 halftime lead over the West Iron County Wykons.
Halftime: Negaunee Miners 42, West Iron County Wykons 22
2nd Half:
After a free throw by Brayden Nelson and a basket by Williams, the Wykons cut the Miners’ lead to only 16. Negaunee had an answer with seven consecutive points led by Waterman and Alex Munson. Williams tried to keep West Iron County in it with his free throw shooting, but Negaunee stretched its lead to 25 points. Three Miners were in double digits heading into the final quarter of play, as Lindberg had 21 points, Waterman with 20, and Sager with 11. Negaunee led West Iron County 60-37 at the end of the third quarter.
End of 3rd: Negaunee Miners 60, West Iron County Wykons 37
West Iron County’s Elijah Turbessi knocked down a 3-point shot to open up the scoring in the fourth quarter, the Wykons needed a huge comeback in this one. The Miners once again had a counter from Sager, and that would put it away for good. Both teams entered its substitutes as the game had reached its final stages. Both squads were playing good defense down the stretch, as neither team could get its offense going. The Miners took the lead for the first time by a score of 7-5, and never looked back. Jason Waterman recorded his 1000th career point, and the Miners dispatched the West Iron County Wykons 68-48 to get to 3-0 on the season. Lindberg led the game in scoring with 24 points, Waterman was right behind him with 22 points.
Final Score: Negaunee Miners 68, West Iron County Wykons 48
NEXT GAME: The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team returns to the court on Monday, Dec. 30 when they host the Manistique Emeralds after over a week off for the holidays. This one is slated for an early tip, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. Jesse Anderson will have the call on Sunny 101.9, beginning with the Elder Agency Pregame Show at 5:45 p.m.
LISTEN – FULL GAME – MINERS VS WYKONS ON SUNNYFM
