Hancock, MI – December 20, 2019 – Looking to rebound from Tuesday night’s tough loss to Marquette, the Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team did so in a big way with a 54-36 victory over the Hancock Bulldogs. Lilly Nelson led the game with 17 points scored, and Alyssa Hill also had a big game with 14 points and 18 rebounds. It was a battle to start, but the Miners clamped down defensively in the second half and stifled the Hancock offense to improve to 4-2 on the season. Jesse Anderson had the call from Hancock on Sunny 101.9.
1st Half:
Negaunee started off slow, as the Bulldogs led 7-2 with five minutes left in the first quarter. Hancock took control early from the efforts of Taylor Sebbas and D’Andra Kero, they weren’t going to let the Miners get back on the winning side without a fight. Hill scored Negaunee’s first four points to start the game, but Bree Giotto got in the scoring column to tie the game at 7-7 with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The defense picked up for both sides in the final minutes, and the Miners held a 10-9 lead after one quarter of play.
End of 1st: Negaunee Miners 10, Hancock Bulldogs 9
Hancock came out strong to begin the second quarter by scoring the first five points to make it 14-10. Nelson gave the Miners a spark with a deep 3-point shot, and Negaunee led 15-14. The Bulldogs responded quickly however, as Isabella Hebert made a layup to put Hancock back in front. This game continued to go back and forth, as the game stayed one-possession throughout the final minutes of the first half. Negaunee jumped back in the lead with a Hill bucket near the end of the half, and the Miners took a one-point lead into the locker room. Hill led the way for Negaunee in emphatic fashion with 10 points and 11 rebounds, a double-double at halftime.
Halftime: Negaunee Miners 21, Hancock Bulldogs 20
2nd Half:
The Bulldogs continued to apply full court pressure on the Miners, and Negaunee had its difficulties getting the ball up the court. Hancock took advantage with a basket to take back the lead, 22-21. Giotto took it into her own hands to end the scoring drought for Negaunee with a 3-pointer to give the lead back to the Miners. Giotto then stole the inbounds pass and dished it to Larissa Anderson for a 3-point shot from the corner to extend the lead to 27-22. That was what Negaunee needed, as they went on a big run to take a 35-25 lead. Even with the presence of Hebert and Kaisa Salani down low, the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize on the hard-nosed defense being displayed by the Miners. The third quarter completely shifted the game, as Negaunee began to play the better defense complimented by good 3-point shooting. Hancock knocked down a couple of free throws in the final minute, and the Miners led 35-27 after three quarters.
End of 3rd: Negaunee Miners 35, Hancock Bulldogs 27
The Bulldogs were trying to get back into the game, but it’s tough to beat the Miners when Nelson is also a scoring threat. Her 3-pointer gave Negaunee a 38-28 lead, and the Miners were playing good team basketball. Hill continued her impressive night with a jump-shot to put Negaunee up 12 with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Chloe Norman began to do damage with an and-one bucket. Even with a quiet night in the scoring department from Norman, the Miners held a 15-point lead. Nelson chipped in once again with another basket, she had a big night for the Miners. Negaunee was content on running clock offensively, they were trying to get out of there with the victory. In the final minutes, Negaunee was still executing as Hill found Norman on a nice pass for the basket to extend the lead to 19. The Miners shut down the Hancock offense completely in the second half en route to a 54-36 road win. Nelson led the game in scoring with 17 points, and Hill put up an impressive stat-line of 14 points and 18 rebounds.
Final Score: Negaunee Miners 54, Hancock Bulldogs 36
NEXT GAME: After having almost two weeks off with the Christmas break, the Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team will be back in action in the new year on Thursday, Jan. 2 against the Calumet Copper Kings! Jesse Anderson will have the action from Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee live on Sunny 101.9! The Elder Agency Pregame Show begins at 7 p.m., and tip-off will follow at 7:15 p.m.
LISTEN – FULL GAME – MINERS VS BULLDOGS ON SUNNY101.9
