Home Local Schools Negaunee Miners Negaunee Miner Girls Basketball(22) Gets Swept in Season Series Against Rival Redettes(60)

Negaunee Miner Girls Basketball(22) Gets Swept in Season Series Against Rival Redettes(60)

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Rosalie & Adena Anderson during the pregame Captain's meeting.
Rosalie & Adena Anderson during the pregame Captain’s meeting.

MARQUETTE, MI – 2/18/2014 — The Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team had a fitting end to their non-conference schedule this season with a tough 60-22 loss in Marquette against the Redettes.  This most recent loss for the Miners, their third straight overall, dropped Negaunee to a 10-9 record with a 1-7 record against non-conference opponents.  While it has been a tough stretch for the Miners, they still win most of the games that really count.  Sporting a 9-2 record in MPC play, the Miners are definitely in the running to come out of a very competitive district playoffs.

The Miners came out slow, and ended the first quarter losing by 15 (17-2).  Marquette, who came in 16-2 on the year, was led by their junior star Hunter Viitala all night (21 pts, 5stls, 2reb, asst, blk).  As seen in the statistics, Hill was everywhere for the Redettes who shot an impressive 71% in the first half before cooling off in the second half.  With two threes from Mikayla Blight and one from Elizabeth Kurin, the Miners’ early struggles knocked them out of competition early on.  This will be a team Negaunee will have to deal with for at least one more year, as Marquette doesn’t sport a single senior on their roster.  Keep in mind that Marquette is 17-2 heading into the playoffs.

The Miners Defense was powerless against the Redettes 55% shooting on Tuesday Night.
The Miners Defense was powerless against the Redettes 55% shooting on Tuesday Night.

Leading the way for Negaunee tonight was junior Ashley Tresedder (7pts, 2reb, 2assts) and Hannah Laurila (5pts, reb, asst, stl) who were the only two Miners to score more than two points.  Negaunee failed to score more than 10 points in any quarter tonight and looked like the loss from Friday Night against Westwood was still sticking with them.

The Girls will need to get their stuff together by next Wednesday at the very least, an preferably by this Thursday when they’ll face the rival Lady Hematites.  Negaunee knocked Ishpeming off back on January 20th in a thrilling 32-30 defensive battle in Ishpeming.  If this young Miners team wants the season to continue past next week they’ll have some kinks to work out of their game:

  •   They need to get back to playing their brand of defense that troubled teams all season long.  In the past three games (all losses), they’ve allowed a combined 157 points.  They had only allowed a combined 139 in the previous four before that.
  • They need to slow the game down offensively.  Teams are keying on Aleda Johnson bringing the ball up the court, and while she doesn’t make many bad decisions, her 5’3” frame makes it difficult to throw the ball over the heads of opposing seniors/juniors running right at her.
Hannah Laurila (#22) scored five points on Tuesday Night, including a big three-pointer.
Hannah Laurila (#22) scored five points on Tuesday Night, including a big three-pointer.

If Negaunee can get back to playing their game, the they should continue playing into March.  Coach Sager will definitely be riding his team, trying to prepare them for a playoff run.  They obviously have the potential seeing as most teams don’t go 9-2 against some stiff MPC competition without any talent.  Be sure to get out and support your Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball Team this Thursday as they have the inter-town rival Ishpeming Lady Hematites coming to Lakeview Memorial Gym.  Pregame will begin at 7 with a 7:30 tip-off.  GO MINERS!

-Carl Leander Johnson

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