Columns | Upbeat Sports

Boys Basketball

Marquette vs. Negaunee: Four things to watch for

1/3/2020 | Boys Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

Negaunee’s senior core has gone through the complete cycle of a maturation process — from underclassmen who finished with a losing record playing against perennial veteran teams, to discovering how to win late in games last season and eventually capturing a district title. Now, with numerous three-year varsity starters, the Miners are considered one of the top teams in the...

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Girls Basketball

Five storylines to watch this girls basketball season

12/2/2019 | Girls Basketball | By Bryce Derouin |

There’s an inclination for boys basketball to generate more interest, and the UP is typically no different. Boys often feature a quicker pace that can appeal to the regular fan. But if there was a year for that interest to sway the other direction and be an exception, it would be this upcoming girls basketball season. Here are five storylines...

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Football

Ranking the top moments from the regular season

10/30/2019 | Football | By Bryce Derouin |

The postseason starts this weekend, but before we preview the biggest games of the year, let’s take a look back at the most memorable moments of the regular season. Prior to the blowouts that dominated the closing weeks, there were plenty of close games with major implications or intriguing storylines. Here’s a list of five of the biggest from the...

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Football

Four takeaways from a wild Week 6

10/8/2019 | Football | By Bryce Derouin |

When it comes to marquee matchups, Week 6 was one of the best in the UP so far. There were four games between teams ranked in the previous Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Poll, and each contest had major conference implications. Here are four things that stood out this past weekend.

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Football

Four takeaways from Negaunee's 40-20 win over Ishpeming

9/30/2019 | Football | By Bryce Derouin |

There may not be a team more ravaged by injuries than the Negaunee Miners. In Friday’s 40-20 win over Ishpeming, seniors Drew DuShane (WR/DB), Eric Etelmaki (RB/LB) and Leo Helppi (LB/OL) watched from the sideline. That’s three two-way starters. Plus, Kevin Jacobson was making his head coaching debut by filling in for his brother, Paul, who was at his son’s...

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Football

Five storylines that stick out so far

9/16/2019 | Football | By Bryce Derouin |

With Week 3 in the books, we’re already one-third through the high school football regular season. Some teams are already halfway to clinching a playoff berth, while others deal with injuries or prepare for key conference showdowns. Things are beginning to take shape across the UP, and these are five storylines that stick out.

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