Madelyn Koski is perfect. At least she tries to be. And sometimes she tries not to be. Koski has a complicated relationship with perfection. Take today for example. It’s the Saturday before finals week and Koski is at home with her family, college basketball plays on the TV in the background. She likes to get up early, so as not...
When a cat catches a mouse, it doesn’t kill the prey right away. Instead, it likes to play games. For Westwood coach Kurt Corcoran, that is what it’s like watching his star guard Tessa Leece go at opposing defenses. She is the cat and they are the mice. She switches speeds so quickly that defenders don’t know what’s coming. A...
Megan Crow scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Gladstone defeated Gwinn 55-47 on Thursday in Gwinn. Teammate Alaina Trudeau added 18 points in the win, including six free throws in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory. She was 10 of 14 at the free throw line. Maddie Ahlgren facilitated the offense with five assists after recording...
There’s just something about Calumet. West Iron County shouldn’t have trouble with the Copper Kings, and yet, they are one of just two teams to beat the Wykons. And on Thursday, they almost did it again. Their scrappy defense, full-court trap, relentless pressure and overall quickness kept WIC flustered for most of the contest. The Wykons ended up winning, 45-41,...
Marquette looked small. I know that’s hard to believe. The Redettes have a roster full of 5-10, 5-11 and 6-0 players who dominate opponents with their length and strength. And yet, the undersized Westwood Patriots made them look small. Not in stature; their height was still apparent, but in the way they played. Westwood played big, and Marquette played small....
The girls' side of the poll remains relatively similar to last week's, and boys Divisions 1-3 also didn't see changes. However, boys Divison 4 shook up quite a bit, with several teams moving around. Here is the sixth poll of the season.
It took an extra period, but the Ishpeming Hematites were able to withstand a poor first half to defeat the L'Anse Purple Hornets 70-65 in overtime on Monday night in Ishpeming. "L'Anse came out early and outplayed us in the first half," Ishpeming coach Ryan Reichel said. "We were fortunate to be in striking distance at half. We had to...
Carney-Nadeau used a well-rounded scoring effort to defeat Stephenson 56-40 on Monday in Stephenson. Layla Blahnik-Thoune led the Wolves with 12 points, while Kristen Charlier and Tessa Wagner each added 10. Six other Wolves recorded points in the game. C-N was able to build its lead in the third quarter, as the Wolves held Stephenson to just three points. They...
When taking on No. 1 West Iron County, most team’s best efforts include trying to shut down the Wykons' powerful post duo in Eden Golliher and Emily Nelson, something that has not exactly worked out as they have both had stellar seasons to date. However, the question remained: What would happen if a team was able to successfully limit them?...
It was hard. Alaina Trudeau will admit that. No team wants to lose its first six games of a season, but Trudeau knew there were better things coming. So, Gladstone continued to go about its business. The Braves learned together, had fun together, and eventually, they found a way to win together. “We stuck through it, we had to have...
The inclement weather has been so severe to the point where coaches with decades of experience in the UP say they’ve never seen anything like it as far as games postponed and rescheduled. With the weather canceling practices and some games, it’ll be interesting to see how teams handle their preparation as the postseason approaches. The boys are now two...
CALUMET — The Copper Kings used a balanced scoring effort to top visiting Ewen-Trout Creek 46-32 on Saturday. Celia Kiilunen, Ellie Djerf and Marybeth Halonen each scored nine points, and Ava Anderson added seven. Djerf also added seven assists, while Kiilunen added five assists and five rebounds to her totals. E-TC was led by Elise Besonen with 15 points. UP...
Double-digit fourth-quarter comebacks in high school basketball are tough enough to come by. Making a one-point lead stand for the longest minute ever is a special kind of hell in itself. Displaying the kind of mental and physical toughness not seen from Carney-Nadeau girls basketball in years, the Wolves pulled off quite a victory Saturday night, storming from behind and...
Emily Coveyou has watched St. Ignace play in plenty of semifinal games. She’s watched the Saints in state titles, too. But one thing is missing. She’s never played in either of those games herself. And she really, really, really wants to. “It is really important to me,” she said. “I’ve been one game away for the last three years. We...
When the MHSAA classifications came out for the 2018-19 season, it’s safe to assume the Division 3 coaches in the UP let out a sigh of relief of sorts when they realized St. Ignace wouldn’t pose an issue for them. And with the Saints blowing out teams on a daily basis, it only solidifies those preseason feelings. But Saturday was...
To understand the biggest difference between Marquette and Kingsford, all you have to do is look at their point guards. Marquette’s Aspen Michelin is 5-10; Kingsford's Brooke Kriegl is 5-2. Then, take a glance around the court and you’ll see similar size differences. Marquette has four players standing at 5-10 or above and three more at 5-9. The Redettes are...
Eden Golliher had another big night, pouring in 23 points to help the West Iron County Wykons hold off the Gwinn Modeltowners 58-46 on Friday in Gwinn. Gwinn coach Ben Olsen was impressed by Golliher's efforts, despite his different attempts to limit her scoring. "Eden Golliher is one of the best, if not the best girl I've seen in the...
The Chassell Panthers showed a balanced attack with four players reaching double figures, as they ran past the Dollar Bay Blue Bolts 65-12 on Friday in Dollar Bay. The Panthers were led by Jenna Pietila with 22 points, while Paige Sleeman, Leia Rautiola and Shannon Rantamaki scored 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Dollar Bay was led by Arizona Gilles...
It was never going to be easy, and it was never going to be perfect. That was a given. But how do you follow up a 26-2 season with a run to the state championship game? Last season the Chassell Panthers opened their season by losing to L’Anse. Then, they rattled off 26 straight wins, beating the odds and...
The Marquette Redettes scored a dominant 76-31 win over the Houghton Gremlins Wednesday in Houghton. Marquette received a balanced scoring effort with Avery Ledy leading the way with 19 points, while Sydney Kivi and Madison Carter each had 17 points. Aspen Michelin added 15 points. Ledy also added 10 rebounds for a double-double and Kivi recorded seven boards. The Redettes...
As fun as it was winning their first 11 games by an average of nearly 21 points, Westwood coach Kurt Corcoran knew it wasn’t sustainable or indicative of what his Patriots would face in March. Teams scout and adjust, and there’s the daily challenge of facing upset-minded groups who play with a certain vengeance; because who wouldn’t want to knock...
Emily Coveyou had 24 points and six rebounds as St. Ignace coasted to another blowout win, 74-24 over Gaylord on Tuesday in Gaylord. The Saints had a well-rounded effort, with Emma Feleppa contributing 10 points and six rebounds, and Madison Olsen adding nine points and four blocks. Ally Schultz led the team in assists with seven. The Saints limited Gaylord...
The Negaunee Miners escaped a close game with Calumet 46-40, thanks to an 18-point fourth quarter, Tuesday in Negaunee. The Miners were coming off a 43-39 upset loss at Gladstone last week. Abby Nelson led the Miners with 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter to put things away. MacKenzie Karki added 13 points and scored five in the...
At least we all survived that cold spell, which means we no longer have to endure someone in sports media saying or writing “It may be cold outside, but (team name) was heating up!” when a group is shooting well. But the inclement weather did affect the number of games played, meaning there’s less change in this week’s rankings. Here’s...
It was a good birthday for Megan Crow. She turned 17 on Friday and had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help Gladstone defeat visiting Menominee 50-49. “She’s been a lot more aggressive, doing her work early and getting better position,” coach Andy Cretens said. “ The girls are doing a fantastic job getting the ball in good spots, and...
A balanced scoring effort led the Calumet Copper Kings over the L’Anse Purple Hornets 66-47 Thursday in L’Anse. Lizzie Torola led the Copper Kings with 12 points, while Elli Djerf and Jana Loukus each scored nine. Celia Kiilunen and Marybeth Halonen had nine, and Ava Anderson scored eight points. Calumet shot 26 of 57 from the field and assisted on...
Things were not easy for Gladstone at the beginning of the season as the Braves lost their first six games, but coach Andy Cretens knew his team had better things coming. It doesn’t get much better than upsetting the No. 2 team in the UP, and that is exactly what Gladstone did with a 43-39 victory over Negaunee on Tuesday...
Tom Goodreau paces up and down the sideline in front of the Baraga bench calling out instructions to his team. It’s the usual assortment of directions: take care of the ball, closeout, stop the cutters, etc. But he says one command more than any other: Rebound. And the Vikings missed their fair share on the boards, but when it counted,...
Dan Pertile has been trying to instill a sense of patience in his Hancock Bulldogs over the course of the season, repeatedly stressing the importance of staying within themselves when things get tough. The Bulldogs encountered as rough of a stretch as they have all season in the first half of Monday’s game against their rival Calumet Copper Kings, scoring...
Last week saw a shakeup in the UPSSA poll due to several upsets, but this week things stayed relatively the same. A few teams moved up or down a spot, but nothing major. Here is the fourth poll of the season:
Last week Riley Poupore joined the 1,000-point club at Iron Mountain, and yesterday she added to her legacy with a 35-point performance in her team’s 59-48 victory on the road against Ishpeming.
In a sense, it was strange. In the ensuing moments of Eden Golliher securing a last-second rebound to preserve a 39-38 win over the Kingsford Flivvers, you’d have been hard-pressed to find the typical exalted emotion from a team that had just recorded a dramatic victory. There were no hugs, leaping into the air or arms outstretched. Anna Malmquist flashed...
Before Thursday, we were doing pretty well as far as inclement weather. But then a snowstorm hit and numerous games were postponed. And now with the polar vortex arriving this week, it’s anyone’s guess how many games will be played. For any coaches or athletic directors reading this, feel free to reach out to let us know of postponements and...
When describing Tessa Leece over the past few games, Leece and her coach Kurt Corcoran used the same word: disappeared. Leece had gone away from her approach of being a dynamic scorer and focused more on being a facilitator, someone who kept her teammates involved at all costs while not tallying the points she is capable of. Leece decided that...
Marquette needed 22 points from Avery Ledy and 16 more from Sydney Kivi to escape Menominee, finishing with a 52-49 win on the road. Ledy and Kivi each grabbed seven rebounds as well. The Redettes trailed after three quarters before outscoring the Maroons 16-7 in the fourth to secure the victory. Menominee was led by Emma Anderson who finished with...
The St. Ignace Saints defeated the Cedarville Trojans 69-28 Thursday in the 11th Annual Hooping for a Cure game. Last year’s fundraising record of $19,000 may have been broken on Thursday. In the first 10 years of the event, the game has raised $160,000. In the contest, Emily Coveyou led the way with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four steals....
When Marquette played Calumet on the road a few weeks ago, the Copper Kings put up a barrage of 3-pointers late in the game, and Marquette escaped with a six-point win. After the game, Coach Ben Smith gave his team the facts. You won, he said, but now you’ve let Calumet think they can play with us. “I told the...
Westwood set a school record by making 11 3-pointers on the way to a 51-41 win over Gwinn on Tuesday at Westwood. The Patriots were led by Madelyn Koski who scored 25 points and tied a school record by connecting on six 3-pointers. Tessa Leece added 17 points in the win.
The Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers used a strong defensive showing to run by the Republic-Michigamme Hawks 65-21 Monday night in Republic. The Panthers controlled the defensive end of the floor, dominating the steals category 20-1. The Panthers were led by Kate Borseth with 21 points, and Elise Besonen added 15 points to go with her five steals. Republic-Michigamme was led by...
It starts with a near squat, hands near the side of the ball, held firmly and almost as low as her stomach. Then, with her elbows pointed outwards, Mackenzie Karki elevates and pushes the ball forward. As she releases, her hands point out in the same direction. It’s unorthodox, but it works. Teammates joke about the form of her jumper,...
The Calumet Copper Kings showed a strong defensive effort as they held off the Chassell Panthers 39-37 Monday night in Calumet. Calumet only allowed one Chassell player to reach double figures, while also allowing only four players to score. The Copper Kings were led by Molly Larson with 13 points on 6-7 shooting, and Elli Djerf added 10 points. Chassell...
With upsets and losses within the top five, this week should see the most shakeup in the UPSSA poll. Weeks like this are expected at some point because not every team is going 20-0. But with all the shakeup, comes more debate with who should go where. Here’s how I have it for the girls this week:
Marquette went into halftime trailing Sault Ste. Marie by six points, but an impressive second-half showing propelled the Redettes to a 47-42 road-victory on Friday. Marquette outscored Sault Ste. Marie 30-19 in the second half to secure the win. The Redettes were led by Sydney Kivi and Avery Ledy, who each recorded a double-double. Kivi had 18 points and 12...
CARNEY — The Carney-Nadeau Wolves got another monster scoring night from Layla Blahnik-Thoune as they dominated visiting Mid-Pen, 72-33 on Friday. Blahnik-Thoune scored 31 points, including 14 in the first quarter to help C-N build a 20-10 advantage. The lead would only grow from there. Tessa Wagner added 14 points, and Maelynn Debaker finished with 11. UP NEXT C-N (7-2)...
Emily Nelson has come a long way from when she was a young player, both with her skill set and her mentality. The 6-foot-1 junior commands a lot of attention, presumably just as much as she always has, but the difference between her game in the past and her current style of play comes down to one word: patience. No...
They’ll never be each other’s major rivals; no, that distinction belongs to Gladstone and North Central. But to label Escanaba and Bark River-Harris as typical nonconference opponents would be selling it short. There’s a unique familiarity between the two groups. Taylor Ray transferred from BR-H to Escanaba, while Cassidi Stannard started at BR-H, went to Escanaba for a season before...
They didn’t even celebrate. Why would they? After all, this was just a regular game. It wasn’t really. There was a little bit of history involved, and a little more intrigue, but the Negaunee Miners treated it like your run of the mill basketball game. When the final seconds ticked off the clock, coach Brandon Sager gave each player...
Madelyn Koski is perfect. At least she tries to be. And sometimes she tries not to be. Koski has a complicated relationship with perfection. Take today for example. It’s the Saturday before finals week and Koski is at home with her family, college basketball plays on the TV in the background. She likes to get up early, so as not...
Ewen-Trout Creek played like the No. 2 team in the Upper Peninsula, winning 48-26 at Wakefield-Marenisco Tuesday night. The Panthers moved up to the second spot in the Division 4 poll after a 45-32 victory over Ontonagon Friday night. And just like that game, E-TC dominated with its defense, holding the Cardinals to just four points in each of the...
Elli Djerf had 22 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four assists for a complete game that helped Calumet top Houghton 54-45 on Tuesday in Houghton. She was 9-14 shooting and 5-7 from the free throw line. As a team Calumet had 11 steals. Houghton was led by Josie Connors with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. UP NEXT Calumet (5-5)...
A 14-point run the start the fourth quarter propelled Chassell to a 49-30 win at home against Jeffers on Tuesday. “We were able to spread them out and control the ball to seal the win,” coach Bill Sleeman said. “The girls really seem to be coming together, especially on the defensive end.” Jenna Pietila had 18 points and seven rebounds,...
It had all the makings of a blowout. Gwinn couldn’t make a shot — literally; the Modeltowners were 1 of 18 from the field in the first half, including 0 for 13 from 3-point range. Negaunee jumped ball screens and cutters and its athleticism was enough to make Gwinn’s shooters rush just a tad. “And a lot of them...
This is the second edition of the UPSSA basketball poll, which will be released every week.
As the season progresses, Menominee has gotten used to two different outcomes. The first, a win in which the Maroons overwhelm their opponents and cruise to victory. The second, a close loss, where the Maroons have their hearts broken in the late stages of a game. They’ve lost two such contests this season. In the season opener Westwood came back...
Karli Patron scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Westwood cruised to a 60-30 road victory on Monday. Madelyn Koski also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. The Patriots held the Mountaineers to single-digit scoring in all four quarters, as only Riley Poupore scored more than 10 points. She finished with 13. The Patriots also went...
After looking at the first poll, there wasn’t anything major I would deem that out of place. One voter didn’t put the Ontonagon girls in its top five, which I guess is fine if the basis used was the Gladiators don’t play anyone, leaving them undeserving of a top five spot despite being undefeated when the poll dropped. I didn’t...
In the three weeks or so since its last game before break, Ewen-Trout Creek played just one time. Not only did the Panthers lose to L’Anse, it allowed their rivals to the north, Ontonagon, to be ranked ahead of them in the first U.P. polls of the season earlier this week. The No. 3 Panthers will almost certainly be ranked...
St. Ignace remains undefeated (9-0) after a 63-18 blowout victory over Rogers City on Thursday. Emily Coveyou only played three quarters due to the lopsided score, but the senior finished with 26 points, five rebounds and five steals. Madison Olsen and Tessa Schultz each recorded eight points and four steals, and Ally Schultz led the Saints in two categories, with...
The Marquette Redettes overcame an early deficit to defeat the Calumet Copper Kings 47-41 Friday night in Calumet. The Redettes (7-2) scored just five points in the first quarter, but responded by outscoring the Copper Kings (4-5) in the next two quarters to pull out the win. Marquette was led by Avery Ledy with 14 points, and Aspen Michelin added...
Gwinn had four players in double-digits as the Modeltowners rolled over visiting L’Anse 77-39 on Thursday. Mallory Delmont led all scorers with 16 points, Brooke Manor and Trisha McGuire each had 14, and Marissa Delmont added 10. Marissa Delmont added seven assists and six rebounds. McGuire added five steals to her 14 points. The Modeltowners got off to a hot...
West Iron County coach Eric Shamion had a hunch he might need a late-game play to get a final shot when his team played Negaunee on Tuesday. So, the day before he implemented one in practice. His hunch was wrong — WIC beat Negaunee by nine points — but it wasn’t fruitless. The play came in handy just two days...
For six minutes Bark River-Harris looked untouchable. The Broncos executed their press perfectly, using quick hands to create steals and turnovers, and intense pressure to force bad shots. On offense they cut to the basket, found the open player and finished layups off the backboard. It was nothing fancy, nothing flashy, and nothing exciting, but it worked. Six minutes of...
Even after defeating a previously undefeated Negaunee team, Eric Shamion isn’t quite ready to publicly claim his West Iron County Wykons as one of the UP’s best. He flashes a wide smile when asked, and it’s one of those expressions where you can sense his excitement, but it’s evident he wants to catch himself in order to give a politically...
Tessa Leece poured in 23 points to propel undefeated Westwood to a 61-40 victory over Gladstone, Tuesday in Gladstone. Leece hit three 3-pointers and was 8-9 at the free throw line. Madelyn Koski added 15 points. The Patriots lead 21-10 after the first period and continued to build the lead. Gladstone could never recover. Megan Crow led the Braves with...
This is the first edition of the UPSSA basketball poll, which will be released every week.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about Upbeat is being able to see more teams across the UP. It goes without saying that it makes doing this poll a lot easier with being able to lean on seeing these teams in person, along with being able to draw more sources from different parts of the UP. The same goes when...
The Negaunee Miners defeated the Manistique Emeralds 60-17 Friday in Negaunee. The Miners were led by Abby Nelson with 17 points. Negaunee's defense limited the Emeralds to just seven first-half points, including a shutout in the second quarter. Every player scored for the Miners (7-0), as they continue their unbeaten season. The Emeralds (1-5) were led by Joslyn Muth with...
Christmas break for high school students is a time for family, food, no homework and plenty of relaxation. Unless you’re a basketball player. Then, it’s all those things plus something a little less fun: conditioning. With a few weeks off of school, it’s the perfect time to iron out any issues and get in better shape. West Iron County took...
It was evident early on that Hurley was just too quick for Bessemer. The Midgettes led 24-6 at the end of the first quarter, scoring early and often and transition. The Speedgirls competed, but they were a step late and battled foul trouble in the first quarter already. Hurley went on to win the non-conference game 70-29.
CALUMET — Four Westwood Patriots scored in double-figures as they coasted to a 58-35 win Thursday, on the road against Calumet.
It’s a universal truth in the basketball world: coaches love close games. At least, that’s what they’ll tell you when the buzzer sounds. To be fair, the most player growth and team progression happen when things are tight on the court. It’s difficult to learn anything in blowouts, but they sure give coaches a chance to breathe. In St. Ignace’s...
At first, the Bark River-Harris Broncos tried to be themselves. That means pressing, full-court traps and pushing the ball at such a frantic pace that the tempo of a game can border on chaos. And for the most part, this works, because BR-H typically has a deeper stable of athletes and the length and speed to overwhelm its opponents. So...
We’re close to the debut of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association basketball poll. The first one will drop on Jan. 8, and the soonest outlets are allowed to post it is 6 a.m. each Tuesday. I will still release my rankings columns on Mondays, so at least by then, you’ll know how I voted for the poll. There’s...
St. Ignace (6-0) remains undefeated after winning a battle with Detroit Mumford, 55-53, in the Motor City Roundball Classic on Saturday. The Saints played two games in Detroit, winning the first over Reece 63-59 in overtime prior to the victory over Mumford. Before heading to Detroit, St. Ignace had topped opponents by an average of 50 points.
Westwood (7-0) used a balanced scoring attack to defeat visiting Hancock 63-32 on Friday. Three Patriots scored in double-digits, with Madelyn Koski leading the charge with 18 points. Tessa Leece added 15, and Karli Patron had 10. Westwood held a 31-18 halftime lead over Hancock (2-4) and kept the Bulldogs to less than 10 points in the third and fourth...
After building a lead, St. Ignace (5-0) was outscored by 15 points in the second half as Reece (6-1) forced overtime. But the Saints rallied in the extra frame to come away with a 63-59 victory, winning their first game of the Motor City Roundball Classic and remaining undefeated. "We had a large lead and Reece came back and tied...
Escanaba was able to do just enough in a low-scoring affair to top Gladstone 38-33 on Friday in Gladstone. Esky was led by Lexi Chaillier and Nicole Kamin who scored 17 and 15 points, respectively. Despite the loss, Gladstone coach Andy Cretens wasn’t pleased with his team’s defensive effort.
Jenna Pietila has had a lot asked of her in her senior season. With her valuable experience from last season’s state championship run, she has been leaned upon to provide leadership and scoring for her team. On Thursday night, she received help from freshman Paige Sleeman, who matched Pietila’s 11 points in Chassell’s (2-3) 37-26 victory over the Hancock Bulldogs...
As a coach, it must be stressful to see Negaunee approaching on your schedule. How do you scheme for a team that has a little bit of everything? Discipline, unselfishness, balance, experience. And now, coaches can get even more anxious, because as the Miners coasted to a 64-35 win over Ishpeming, they debuted yet another facet to their game. Negaunee...
Emily Coveyou scored her 1,000th point on a free throw as St. Ignace went on the road and defeated Sault Ste. Marie 55-45 on Thursday. She was 9-13 from the free throw line, while also adding 14 rebounds for a double-double. The Saints have defeated their previous opponents by an average of 50 points, but Sault Ste. Marie kept things...
The whistle blew and every head in the Gwinn gym turned, focusing on the referee. This call, they knew, would change the course of the game. Moments earlier Escanaba’s Nicole Kamin drove to the hoop, colliding with Gwinn’s Brooke Mannor. Mannor fell, Kamin fell, and the ref settled on his call. Charge.
In a battle of two young teams, it was a senior that gave Hurley the early advantage it needed against its biggest rival. Hurley’s Ally Rye scored eight of her 12 points in the first half to put Hurley up a dozen and the Midgettes were able to hold on for a 44-40 win over Ironwood Tuesday night for their...
The Negaunee Miners (5-0) defeated the L'Anse Purple Hornets (3-2) 67-33 Tuesday night in Negaunee. The Miners were led by MacKenzie Karki with 13 points, along with three other players in double figures. L'Anse was led by Josie Rice with 12 points. L’Anse head coach Scott Lloyd was disappointed in his team's effort, so much so, that he decided to read...
Early in the first quarter, everyone in Gladstone’s gym knew how many miscues Westwood had committed. “That’s three turnovers!” shouted Westwood coach Kurt Corcoran to his team amongst a quiet crowd. It was as uncanny a start as one could expect from a team with a strong enough resume to be considered an early No. 1 in the UP. Turnover,...
Basketball, like most things in life, is constantly changing. Every season coaches and teams try to adapt to the latest and greatest — be it over-hyped trends or tried and true methods that are making their way into the mainstream. Basketball is in an eternal state of evolution. But for almost 20 years the St. Ignace Saints have been stuck...
They utilized their length and athleticism to put on a defensive clinic and briefly executed with such precision on offense that it was enough to remember why many thought of the West Iron County Wykons as a UP favorite in Division 3. There were juniors Eden Golliher and Emily Nelson altering every Kingsford shot attempt in the lane, and junior...
The Modeltowners led by 28 points at halftime en route to a 56-21 win over Manistique on Monday in Gwinn. Manistique was held to single-digit scoring in every period while committing 35 turnovers. Gwinn was led by Marissa Delmont who had 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Mallory Delmont with 16 and 10 points, 10 rebounds and four...
After the debut of the weekly rankings, we’re back at it again. If you missed the first one, the premise of this column is to rank the top five teams in the UP based on divisions. The first official Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Poll will not be released until Jan. 8, but we’re already ranking the teams on...
The Brimley Bays were able to overcome various ailments to key players to remain unbeaten for a 69-57 win over the Superior Central Cougars Saturday in Brimley.
When you’re Marquette, there is an inherent difference between UP basketball teams and those below the bridge. The roster makeup and play styles of opponents in the postseason differs compared to the UP foes. More athletic and bigger come to mind. As the only Division 1 school north of the bridge, trips downstate such as the one Marquette made to...
Negaunee head coach Brandon Sager had a point of emphasis for his team going into Friday’s game against the Hancock Bulldogs: Force the issue defensively, and use speed and help defense to create points off turnovers. Led by senior MacKenzie Karki, the Miners did exactly that, creating many first-half turnovers to help establish a substantial lead that eventually led to...
This looked like a real game. For about a quarter. Trailing Traverse City Central by two after the first eight minutes, the Redettes started off the second with a 13-0 run and then cruised to a 56-25 girls basketball victory Friday in Traverse City.
The Bark River-Harris Broncos (3-0) defeated the Rapid River Rockets 66-19 Friday night in Bark River, featuring a 32-point first quarter that put the game away early for the home team. The Broncos were led by Claire Van Ginhoven with 19 points, who shot 4 of 10 from the 3-point line and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Cassidi...
After Thursday night’s 66-28 victory over Bessemer, Ironwood has won its first three games by a combined 110 points. The Red Devils started the season with an eye-opening 66-25 win over defending Indianhead Conference champion Washburn, went to Butternut and won its closest game of the year 63-32 last Friday and continued with a 38-point victory Thursday night against their...
Ryan Reichel sits down at the end of the Ishpeming bench, leans back and puts a hand over his heart. “These damn kids,” he says laughing. “I can’t handle this.” Then, Jocelynn Nyman calmly steps to the line and swishes two free throws, the perfect signal to her coach that he can relax. Instead, Reichel stands up and throws a...
The Mountaineers used a 22-point fourth quarter to defeat visiting Gladstone 46-37 for their first win of the season. Riley Poupore led all scorers with 19 points, with nine coming in the final frame. She was 10-14 from the free throw line. Reagan Lundholm contributed 12 points off the bench for Iron Mountain. Meanwhile, all of the Braves' scorers were...
Abby Nelson was not about to lose in her own gym. Sure, her jersey says Negaunee and the floor says Marquette, but this is where she grew up. At age 6 she started coming to shoot here with her dad, Brad Nelson, the coach of the Marquette Redmen. She’s put up more shots here than she has in the Miners’...
Before the two teams squared off, Westwood coach Kurt Corcoran joked with West Iron County coach Eric Shamion about the height difference between the Patriots and the Wykons. "What's it like to coach a 6-footer," he asked. "If we stacked two of our girls on top of each other they wouldn't even be 6-feet." WIC has two players over 6-foot...
Jillian Koski is little. She’s little in size at 5-foot-4. Little in age, just a freshman. And little in the way she talks: unassuming, short sentences and soft-spoken. She’s little in every way except one: the way she plays. Koski had 17 points in her third varsity game, leading Westwood (3-0) to a 66-40 victory over Ishpeming (0-3) on Monday...
Gwinn's Marissa Delmont scored 31 points on 50 percent shooting as Gwinn snuck past Houghton 59-54 on Monday in Houghton. Brooke Mannor had 10 points and Mallory Delmont added eight. For Houghton, Cassie Ryynanen did her best to keep the Gremlins in the game, scoring 25 points on 11-19 shooting. Up next, Gwinn (2-1) hosts Manistique on Monday. Houghton (0-3)...
The first Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Poll won’t be released until Jan. 8, but I figured we can start breaking teams down with early-season rankings. Those that followed my work at the Daily Mining Gazette will be familiar with this weekly column. For those of you that are new, I would rank the local teams in our coverage...
The Menominee Maroons bounced back from an overtime loss to Westwood and earned their first win of the season, 51-32, over the Peshtigo Blue Devils.
More often than not in the annual Petoskey Girls Basketball Invitational, the ball has bounced Marquette’s way, with four overall titles in the past five tournaments. That wasn’t the case this season after a buzzer-beating loss to Brighton on Friday, though the weekend closed on a high note with a suffocating defensive performance against Petoskey in a 46-14 win on...
Ewen-Trout Creek head coach Jacky Besonen has developed a reputation for her team’s aggressive, defensive games. When teams gameplan for E-TC, the first thing that usually is brought up is the question of how to beat the relentless pressure that is bound to occur, and Lake Linden-Hubbell head coach Bill Rivest was no different in his preparations for Friday night’s...
Abby Nelson scored 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting, and Chloe Norman added 12 on 6-10 shooting as Negaunee (2-0) cruised past Houghton 65-33, Friday at Houghton. Houghton (0-2) hung with the Miners in the first quarter, trailing by six points, but the Negaunee defense held the Gremlins to single-digit point totals in the remaining three periods. Cassie Ryynanen...
Elli Djerf, though small in comparison to most of her teammates, was given the toughest task in Thursday night’s game: defend West Iron County’s 6-foot junior guard Eden Golliher, who averaged 13.6 points per game while earning All-UP ABC second team honors a season ago. In what seemed like an obvious mismatch, Djerf held Golliher to 11 points with only...
The first steps to a defensive game plan when playing Westwood always start the same way: 1) Stop Madelyn Koski. 2) Stop Tessa Leece. And it makes sense seeing as the two scored 55 percent of the Patriots points last season, with Leece averaging 11.8 points, and Koski averaging 14.7. But stopping them is rarely done, so the most opponents...
For what seems like forever, the Escanaba and Gladstone girls basketball teams have seemed to fit an archetype. Escanaba would have the six-footers. The score in the paint and post-up team, the win the battle of the boards team. Gladstone would bring a guard-heavy lineup and seek to muddle things up, create turnovers and generally make life miserable for the...
The L’Anse Purple Hornets had a significant experience disadvantage coming into Tuesday night’s game against the Houghton Gremlins. The Hornets feature a roster of eight underclassmen, with four juniors and four sophomores. And head coach Scott Lloyd was not sure how they were going to stack up against established programs early in the season. On Tuesday, the young core showed...
ISHPEMING — Down five with under a minute to go, Tessa Leece told her coach Kurt Corcoran, Westwood would not be losing the game. But with little time left, Corcoran wasn’t sure. He began planning his post-game interviews, all about how Westwood ran out of gas at the end. But then Leece took over. She scored 12 points at the...
Starting against last year’s state runner-up had Ewen-Trout Creek coach Jacky Besonen nervous before Tuesday night’s game. Even though Chassell graduated its two best players, they returned Jenna Pietila, one of the best small-school players in the Upper Peninsula, and they have some young talent coming up. It turns out she was right to be nervous as Chassell made it...
First-game jitters can affect even the most seasoned teams. Certainly for the Marquette Redettes, who are replacing much of their starting lineup from last season, there were some nerves to shake off. The Redettes came out strong on the boards Tuesday night in their season-opening 50-31 victory over Gladstone. However, even with multiple opportunities on each offensive possession, nothing went...
Brandon Sager planned to take a more hands-off approach this season. He was going to limit his yelling and instruction from the sideline in an attempt to allow his Negaunee Miners to develop organically. But the uncertainty and inconsistency of season openers has a way of changing even the best-intended plans, especially when you miss 10 of your first 11...
Eight months later, one of the worst defeats in Brandon Sager’s coaching career still hangs over his head. Literally. Banners are meant to honor teams and players for their extraordinary feats so they may be remembered by the community for years to come. And perhaps someday Sager and the Negaunee Miners who went 20-0 will be able to look back...
If you’ve played basketball at any level, be it peewee or college, you’ve heard it: “Pass up a good shot to get a great shot.” It’s a motto coaches love. Well, not all coaches. Marquette’s Ben Smith doesn’t necessarily agree with that notion, at least when it comes to his team this season. The Redettes are equipped with plenty of...
The Bark River-Harris Broncos (1-0) came out and slowly built a lead on visiting Gwinn (0-1), despite trailing by one at the half. Hailee Demers had 13 points, leading BR-H to a 52-42 win on Monday. Cara Zawacki added 11 points of her own, and Lauryn Bloniarz had eight. Brook Mannor of Gwinn led all scorers with 18 points, and...
The Calumet Copper Kings had a blueprint for how to be successful this season: play fast, limit turnovers and deliver suffocating defense. In the opener against Jeffers, head coach Matt Laho emphasized those elements, and his team delivered all three of those traits in a 66-26 victory over Jeffers in its season opener Monday night in Calumet. The Copper Kings...
Brooke Kriegl caches the ball at the top of the key with 2:20 left on the clock. Her Flivvers are running a stall as they nurse a 10-point lead over Ishpeming. Kingsford held a comfortable lead for most of the second half, but in the last few minutes Ishpeming began to make a run, and now as Kriegl finds herself...
The disappointed manifested itself with each 3 that clanked off the rim. Over and over, the Bark River-Harris coaches and players on the bench anxiously stood up each time a high-arching 3 floated in the air as if they were trying to will it in. But no amount of willpower could compensate for BR-H’s major weakness in a 55-53 regional...
Madison Pruett finds herself in a tough spot. The senior is trapped in the corner with a defender on each side. But she doesn’t panic. Instead, Pruett flips a pass to a teammate, waiting wide open under the hoop for an easy bucket. “Pruett!” Coach Ryan Reichel calls out. She turns with a concerned look on her face. “That was...
For the first time, a preseason player rankings poll was conducted to rate the top 25 boys and girls basketball players in the UP. Five coaches and Bryce Derouin of Upbeat ranked the girls on a 25-point scale. A first-place vote warranted 25 points, while second-place was worth 24 and so on. The coaches included one from the Copper Country,...
There’s a loose ball rolling toward the baseline. It bounces gently out of bounds, approaching the padded wall, but the Wykons don’t stop. Instead, players fight for the ball and continue to play. In the West Iron County gym, there are no out of bounds — in practice that is. It’s one of the many strategies head coach Eric Shamion...
When Eden Golliher talks, she seems nervous. The junior speaks in rapid bursts, the words falling out of her mouth so quickly that she occasionally stumbles over them. Her spoken thoughts are punctuated by deep breaths and wide smiles, while the hands she’s been waving around to emphasize her points settle once again by her sides. But Golliher isn’t nervous,...
Matt Laho does not raise his voice very often, if at all. During one of his practices, you can hardly distinguish his voice from the others on the floor. There is a calmness about him, but when he speaks his players listen. Such calmness is surprising, considering that Laho is a first-year varsity head coach, and a coach with big...
The Houghton Gremlins girls basketball program is steeped in tradition. It seems every season, there is another Gremlin team winning a conference or district championship. The last year without a district title occurred in the 2013-2014 season. Such dominance is not typical in high school sports, especially in the UP, where exceptional players can be few and far between. Some...
Tessa Leece and Madelyn Koski don’t have to talk or even look at each other to know what the other is thinking. Their bond is so strong, Leece says, that the two have telepathy. The phenomena of assessing someone’s thoughts and feelings without needing any cues is commonly associated with twins, but Leece and Koski aren’t twins. They aren’t even...
Bill Rivest is a quiet man. If you walked into the Lake Linden-Hubbell girls practice, you would not hear the sound of a typical coach yelling out instructions. Rather, you would hear the squeaking of the shoes, the balls hitting the floor and the team communicating amongst themselves. No yelling. No wild gestures. No gimmicks. Just basketball. Rivest brings a...
