Negaunee, MI – February 12, 2020 – The Negaunee Miners Boys’ basketball team continued their winning streak with a 42-36 win over the Westwood Patriots. The 12-1 Miners came into the game having won their last two contests, and they made it three in a row on Wednesday evening in a game broadcast live on Sunny 101.9.
Westwood won the opening tip, but Negaunee scored the first points of the game as Drew Lindberg sank a pair of free throws on the Miners’ first possession. Neither team had the best start, with each team committing unforced turnovers in the early minutes. Taylor Dellangelo tied the game at two with 6:00 remaining in the opening quarter, and this seemed to spark an offensive push on both sides, with baskets being traded quickly and consistently in the next few minutes. Jason Waterman hit the game’s first triple to put the Miners up 9-6 with 3:30 left in the opening frame, and they were able to hold the lead, taking a 16-10 advantage into the second quarter.
Westwood cut the Negaunee lead to 16-14 at the start of the second quarter, but the Miners answered to prevent the Patriots from going on a run. Westwood went ahead when Zach Carlson hit a three pointer to make the score 20-18, then made another triple to put the Patriots on top 23-18. Negaunee was unfazed however, and by halftime the Miners trailed by just one point, 25-24.
Westwood extended their lead early in the third quarter, with Carlson getting his own rebound and putting it back in for two points. Negaunee fought back, but Westwood seemed to have an edge in both accuracy and rebounding, and the Miners had a hard time trying to cut into the deficit. Negaunee worked hard in the final minutes of the third frame and tied the game up 34-34 going into the fourth quarter.
There was no score in the fourth quarter until over three minutes had elapsed, when Negaunee got a couple of quick baskets to go up 38-34. Westwood wasn’t done though, and kept the game close throughout the entire quarter. Negaunee was in the bonus for the majority of the final frame, and that proved to be the edge they needed. The Miners made some clutch free throws late to seal the 42-36 win.
The next game here on Sunny 101.9 will be on Thursday, February 13, when the Negaunee Miners girls travel to Iron Mountain to take on the Mountaineers. That game begins at 7:15, so tune in at 6:45 for the Elder Agency Pre-Game Show with Jesse Anderson.
Listen to the archived game broadcast here.
