Negaunee, MI – January 3rd, 2020 – The Negaunee Boys Basketball team played host to rival Marquette Friday night. After being down 15 in the first half the Negaunee Miners were able to make a full comeback in overtime to win 79-73 and take back the Miner Cup for the first time in over four seasons.
The first quarter saw the Miners struggle to take care of the ball and the Redmen were able to capitalize. Kam Karp started the scoring with a layup for Marquette, but the real damage came from behind the three-point line. Lincoln Sager made back-to-back threes to brake it open, 7-2 in the first minute. The Redmen would knock down another three before the miners could find their footing, 13-4.
Negaunee would knock back down however. Drew DuShane and Jackson Sager both made two shots in the first frame, cutting the lead down to five, all of that before another Marquette three gave them a 18-12 advantage after one.
The second quarter started slow for both teams. The Miners were able to get an advantage from the free-throw line as Marquette, who had two fouls in the first, finished the half with nine. After some battling, the Redmen would extend their lead by two going into the half, 30-22.
In the third frame, the Miners were again met with a fast start by the Redmen. Lincoln Sager would nail two more three-point shots and Kam Karp would make two layups. to give them a commanding lead before a rare four-point-play by Negaunee’s Drew Lindberg. Marquette 41, Negaunee 28. The two teams would battle hard, both sides would finish the quarter in the bonus. Jason Waterman would start to find himself this quarter as he would pass his first half total of four with six in the frame. A strong push from Negaunee at the end of the quarter made it a nine-point game, 53-44 Marquette.
With 6:50 in the fourth, Negaunee would head to the line in the bonus, Alex Munson was able to make both to cut it, 55-48. Lindberg got another shot to fall the next possession and DuShane would cut it to three the next time down, 55-52.
Kam Karp would step up to stop the bleeding for Marquette with a quick layup, but a Negaunee three-pointer would cut the lead to two.
Next time down for Negaunee, Jason Waterman would make a free-throw and get his board and a three to give the Miners their first lead of the night, 59-57. Next time down Waterman made another layup to go up four 61-57.
The Redmen again looked to Karp as he was fouled and made both free-throws, 61-59. Marquette’s David Eberhard would find the basket next time down to tie the game at 61.
Jackson Sager would be fouled on his shot next time down and was able to convert a three-point play, 64-61 Negaunee. Ty Lotterman would nail a three to tie it at 64 on the Redmen’s next possession.
Jason Waterman would continue his take over with an easy bucket and the Redmen would commit a charge on their next possession, knocking David Eberhard out of the game. Karp would equalize the game next time down with 20 seconds left.
Waterman would miss a fadeaway as time expired, overtime.
Thomas Alberello of Marquette would head to the line to start overtime, he would go one-for-two. Jackson Sager would knock down a three on the other end to give the Miners a two point lead and he would end up on the free-throw line next trip down and make both, 71-67 Negaunee. A bucket from the Redmen was met with two free-throw from Sager for Negaunee. 73-69.
Kam Karp would find the basket again, 73-71 Negaunee. The Miners would try to play keep away and Karp would have to foul, his fifth so he had to exit the game. Waterman at the line would make both, 75-71 with under a minute. Jackson Sager would find himself on the line and make both, 77-73.
Jason Waterman would foul out with 10 seconds on a charge call, but Marquette couldn’t get the ball in play, back to Negaunee where Sager would miss both, but DuShane was able to clean the glass and went to the line to seal the game 79-73.
Next Game – Negaunee boys will face off against the Manistque Emeralds on the 6th at home. Tip is at 6:00, Jesse Anderson with the pregame show at 5:30.
LISTEN TO THE FULL GAME HERE – MINERS VS REDMEN ON SUNNY.FM
