Negaunee, MI – March 11th, 2020 – The Negaunee Miners Boys Basketball team traveled to Gwinn Wednesday night, they would take on the Modeltowners in MHSAA District 66 semifinal action. The Miners would start slow, but the second half was all theirs and then some, a 27 point third quarter would propel them to a 66-33 win.
FIRST HALF
Negaunee won both meeting in the regular season and as they say, it’s hard to beat the same team three times in one season, that saying would seem to ring true at the start of this contest as Gwinn would control the first quarter.
It was a slow start for both squads in this one, at the 4:20 mark in the first quarter, the game was knotted at 2-2, Justin Harnick would break the lock with a deep 3-pointer with 3:30 left to go in the opening frame. Negaunee would make two free throws, Gwinn would split at the line, the Miners would again make two more free throws and we would be tied at six at the end of the first.
End of 1st: Negaunee Miners 6, Gwinn Modeltowners 6
In the second, Drew Lindberg would get the Miners their first lead of the game after nailing a long 3-pointer on the first possession of the quarter. Negaunee would follow that up with a quick put-back, 11-6 Negaunee with 4:50 to go in the second. Jackson Sager would make a couple of free throws to go up 13-6 and Negaunee would finally settle into a grove. Gwinn would finally get their first basket of the quarter at the 3:40 mark, that make would stop a 13 point run for the Miners, but Negaunee would respond immediately, 19-10 with two minutes to go in the half. Jason Waterman would join the party with a deep three, Negaunee up, 22-10 and that would be the score heading into the locker room.
Second Half
Well by the end of this quarter, the Miners would put to rest that old saying, they would score 27 points in this quarter, the third was more muscle flexing for Negaunee as they extended their first half lead big time. Everyone seemed to be getting in on the action as the Miner defense and offense were clicking on all cylinders. Negaunee scored more points in the third quarter than they did in the entire first half and showed signs of a team that could find their way to East Lansing.
End of 3rd: Negaunee Miners 49, Gwinn Modeltowners 20
Gwinn would make their last stand early in the fourth, they would string together a four point run, but Negaunee was on fire and would be up 57-26 with five minutes to play. Negaunee would start subbing in the reserves around the three minute mark as they would take this game in easy fashion after a shaky start to this game. Miners take this one, doubling up the Modeltowners, 66-33.
Next game for the Miners will be Friday, March 13th as Negaunee will host the District 66 Championship at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium, tip off at 7, pregame show at 6:40 on Sunny 101.9!
Listen to a recording of the live broadcast HERE!