Manistique, MI – December 20, 2022 – The Negaunee Miners added another victory to their schedule on Tuesday night with a 41-28 victory over the Manistique Emeralds. The Miners, who improve to 4-1 on the year with the win, played well against a tenacious Manistique team.
Negaunee started the game with a 1-0 lead and possession of the ball after a technical was foul called on Manistique. Sager made a free throw before the clock started running, then added a basket from down low on Negaunee’s first possession to put the Miners ahead 3-0. Manistique came back and tied it on an Elmer Zellar three-pointer, then took the lead after Bryce Blixt scored from the free-throw line. It wasn’t long before Negaunee re-took the lead, but Manistique stuck around and kept the game close.
End of First Quarter: Negaunee 9, Manistique 8
Neither team began the second quarter with any luck, as it took over two minutes before Zellar gave the Emeralds a 10-9 lead with the first basket of the quarter. Just a few moments later Sager picked up a foul that he didn’t agree with, and was so vocal in his dissent towards one of the officials that he was assessed a technical foul. Neither side was given much leeway by the referees in the game; Manistique was called for a 5-second violation after they didn’t break their timeout huddle fast enough and the official with the ball put it on the floor and began his count before the Emeralds had a player ready to inbound. Later in the quarter, Matthew Peters hit a triple to give Negaunee a 14-12 lead, and Negaunee added another basket before halftime.
Halftime: Negaunee 16-12
Negaunee started the third quarter well, with a couple three-pointers made in the opening two minutes, but again the Emeralds stayed in the game with some quality distance shooting of their own. Slowly but surely, though, the Miners built their lead by combining patient offense with quality finishing, and by the end of the third frame Negaunee led by eleven.
End of Third Quarter: Negaunee 32, Manistique 21
The Miners continued to build their lead in the fourth quarter, and though Manistique played well in their attempt to claw back into the game, Negaunee proved to be too much for the Emeralds to handle. The Miners’ focus shifted from methodical offense to stout defense in the final few minutes of the game, and at the final buzzer, Negaunee found themself walking out of Manistique with a 41-28 win.
Final Score: Negaunee 41, Manistique 28
The Negaunee Miners Boys will next be in action tomorrow as part of a doubleheader with the Girls against Westwood, with the Girls starting at 6:00 and the Boys around 7:30. Carl Leander Johnson will be on hand to bring you all the action on Sunny 101.9 or online at sunny.fm.
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