Ishpeming, MI – January 27, 2020 – After cruising to a victory in the first match-up against Ishpeming, this game was completely different as the Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team had to grind out a 53-42 road win over the Hematites. Negaunee is now 10-3 on the season, and this victory was certainly earned after taking shot after shot from a scrappy Hematites’ team. Jesse Anderson had the call in Ishpeming on Sunny 101.9.
1st Half:
Just like in the previous meeting, the Miners were off to a hot start from the scoring of Alyssa Hill and Chloe Norman. Negaunee led 7-0 in the first couple of minutes, and they had the momentum early. Norman hit her second 3-pointer to give the Miners a 12-0 lead, and the Hematites were once again forced to battle back from an early deficit. Olivia Corp got Ishpeming in the scoring column with a bucket, but her team trailed 14-2 after another score by the Miners. The Hematites were getting right back in it after a 3-pointer from Jocelynn Nyman and an and-one by Emma Poirier. After adding another free throw, Ishpeming trailed Negaunee 14-9 after one quarter.
End of 1st: Negaunee Miners 14, Ishpeming Hematites 9
Ishpeming cut the lead down to two in the beginning of the second quarter, this was a game again. Negaunee then responded with a quick run led by Hill and Sierra Hendrickson, to take an eight-point lead. Norman answered an Ishpeming 3-point shot with a jumper, and the Miners led 23-16. Negaunee got the lead back up to double digits before Poirier sunk a buzzer beating shot for the Hematites to end the half.
Halftime: Negaunee Miners 27, Ishpeming Hematites 18
2nd Half:
Negaunee started the second half with an and-one by Morgan Carlson, and they led 30-18 after her made free throw. After Carlson’s bucket, points were hard to come by for the Miners in the third, and Ishpeming took advantage. Poirier knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers for the Hematites, and they trailed 30-24. Ishpeming scored five more consecutive points, and only trailed by one with under one minute left in the quarter. Hendrickson made a huge shot for the Miners to give them a 32-29 lead. Poirier got fouled with one second left, and her two free throws decreased the deficit to only one point. After three quarters of play, Negaunee held on to a 32-31 lead. The Hematites were looking to pull off a major upset.
End of 3rd: Negaunee Miners 32, Ishpeming Hematites 31
Both teams traded baskets to start the final quarter, and Ishpeming took its first lead of the game with a 34-33 advantage. After struggling in the third quarter, Negaunee began to connect on its shots. Larissa Anderson knocked down a clutch 3-pointer, and Lilly Nelson made one a few possessions later to extend the lead. Negaunee went up by eight points in the final minutes, and its defense stepped up to stop the Hematites. The Miners made big free throws down the stretch, and escaped Ishpeming with a 53-42 victory. Norman led the now 10-3 Miners with 15 points, and Poirier paced Ishpeming with 24 points.
Final Score: Negaunee Miners 53, Ishpeming Hematites 42
NEXT GAME: The Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team is back in action on Friday, Jan. 31, when they host the Iron Mountain Mountaineers! Tip-off for that match-up is at 7:15 p.m. The next broadcasted game for the girls is on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when they host the Gladstone Braves! Jesse Anderson will be live from Negaunee’s Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium with the call on Sunny 101.9. The Elder Agency Pregame Show will start at 7 p.m., with tip-off to follow at 7:15 p.m. Go Miners!
LISTEN – FULL GAME – MINERS VS HEMATITES ON SUNNY101.9
