Negaunee, MI – February 8th, 2022 – The Negaunee Miners Girls Basketball team lost in a tough game 46-64 at the hands of the Copper kings of Calumet. Carl Leander Johnson had the call live on Sunny 101.9.
1st Quarter: The action started in this Negaunee Calumet match up with Alyssa Hill winning the tip-off for the Miners. Points came fast for the Miners as a three ball would immediately find it’s way into the basket. Calumet would take no time to answer as they get a two point bucket. Hill dominated the boards early and she would also make an impact with her points as she would get the Miners a 5-4 lead. It was a rough stretch for Negaunee as they would have several straight possessions that resulted in turnovers. The result of these turnovers would be a 9-0 run for Calumet and now the Miners found themselves down 5-13. The momentum only continued for Calumet when Lizzie Torola got an and one shot to go and she would capitalize with a made free throw. Even though Calumet led they wouldn’t let up defensively as they entered a full court press. Negaunee would turn the ball over yet again and Calumet made them pay with a fast break basket, the Miners now trailed 5-18. To finish off the first quarter of play the Copper kings hit a three to extend their lead even more.
End of 1st: Negaunee 5, Calumet 21
2nd Quarter: The scoring drought from the first quarter would quickly end as Ella Mason would score, cutting the lead to 7-21. The Copper kings would answer bringing the lead right back to 16 points. Lily Nelson would get some momentum for Negaunee when she hit a shot from beyond the arc, cutting the deficit to 10-23. Scoring would continue for Negaunee when Alyssa Hill got a two point shot to go, the Miners started to make what looked like a possible comeback. Laina Kariniemi of Calumet would slow down the Miners with her bucket, the Miners trailed 12-27. Hill would get a three point play with an and-one and made free throw to answer. The Copper kings remained relentless offensively as they would hit a three point from downtown. The three’s continued to rain down as Jana Loukus hit a three of her own. Emily Gauthier would get a layup to go before the buzzer sounded, cutting the lead to 13.
End of 2nd: Negaunee 22, Calumet 35
Third Quarter: The first of the possession of the second half was much like the first half as the Miners would turn the ball over. Laura Giachino of Calumet would get fouled and have a perfect trip at the line going 2/2. Alexis Strom would get fouled and go 1/2 at the charity stripe. Hill would get the first points of the half for the Miners, they trailed 24-40. The offense only continued to roll over Negaunee as Calumet would score yet again. Hill continued her strong night as she got yet another and-one to go and she made the free throw to complete the three point play. Through three quarters of play Calumet’s transition offense continued to be the reason they score time and time again as Alexis Strom would score a basket. The Copper Kings would hit a three and following that three was yet another Negaunee turnover. Alyssa Hill would finish off the third quarter for the Miners with a two point basket.
End of 3rd: Negaunee 31, Calumet 54
Fourth Quarter: Coming out of the gates hot was Lily Nelson when she made a three to start the final quarter of play. The Miners continued to score as they got another bucket, they trailed 36-54. Nelson would dish a nice pass to Hill and Hill would convert and continued a run for the Miners. Alexis Strom would find her way to the charity stripe again and go 2/2 to stop the Miners run. Strom continued to haunt Negaunee and she got a shot to go. Summer Dudo would get the ball into the hands of Hill and she would score giving Dudo the assist, the Miners trailed 40-58. Hill would get to the line and go 1/2 during her trip. Emily Gauthier trimmed the Miners deficit when she got a bucket with very little time left in the fourth.
Final Score: Negaunee 46, Calumet 64
Joe Boogren Player of The Game: Alyssa Hill
Next Game: The Negaunee Girls Basketball squad will be back in action on February 11th when they travel to Ishpeming to take on the Hematites. Carl Leander Johnson will have the call live from Ishpeming for the 7:15 p.m tip-off on Sunny 101.9!
