Cardinals win share of IC East crown, down Devils

WAKEFIELD - There's a first time for everything.

On Friday night on their home court, the Wakefield-Marenisco girl's basketball team became co-champions of the Indianhead Conference East Division with Hurley with a 58-28 victory over Ironwood.

It was the first time a Wakefield-Marenisco team has shared or won a title, since the Cardinals joined the Indianhead in 2011.

Both W-M and the Midgets had 13-3 conference records.

"I'm very satisfied with how we've played this year," W-M coach Pete Yon said. "We were really motivated to get this one. The girls worked so hard the last few years and all that experience really helps. They knew what they had to do and went out and did it. It would have been nice to win it (the conference) outright but to win this way is great, too."

Ironwood coach Tim Routheaux was impressed with how the Cardinals play as a team.

"They are not fast, not big, not that athletic, but they just play so well together," Routheaux said. "You can tell they've been playing together for a long time and they move the ball so well on offense. They are a veteran team and where we want to be. They took it to us at the end of the first quarter and the whole second quarter."

Yon said his team now has set its sights on winning the Porcupine Mountain Conference. The Cardinals are 4-0 in the PMC, while Watersmeet is 2-2 and Bessemer is done in the conference with a 3-3 record.

"The worst we can do is tie in the PMC, but we definitely want to win it in its last year," Yon said. "We want to be 17-3 going into the districts (tournament)."

W-M has PMC games left with E-TC and Watersmeet.

The game actually started well for the Red Devils. Emily DiGiorgio took a pass at the free throw line and drove down the lane for the first score. At the 6:06 mark, she was fouled on a shot and the lefty with the soft shooting touch sank two free throws.

Ironwood went up 4-0, but it didn't last. Mainly behind the play of Kassidee and Hallee Yon, W-M recovered and outscored the Red Devils 10-2 the rest of the quarter.

But it was the second quarter that the Cardinals really won the game. Lauren Grace hit two quick put-backs, Kassidee Yon scored and so did Darienne Korpi, who had a fine offensive night with 14 points.

The floodgates opened as Heather Hemming, Hallee Yon and Saundra Libertoski got in the act.

"We started slow, but then we started picking it up in the second quarter," Kassidee Yon said. "It was a big game and we knew we just had to play our game."

The Cards led 34-13 by halftime and DiGiorgio was Ironwood's only offensive weapon with 11 of their 13 points.

But Yon said it was defense that turned the tide.

"In the second quarter, our defensive intensity was the difference," Yon said. "We had full-court pressure and they couldn't get it past half-court. Libertoski had lots of steals and was disruptive. We took Ironwood out of its rhythm.

"We had team defense all-around. Emily (DiGiorgio) is a real good shooter, but we stopped her from going inside and kept her out of the paint. We've played together a long time and we think as one out there."

The second half started like the first half ended. Hallee Yon dribble-drove to the basket and made a 3 the old-fashioned way with a lay-in and a foul shot. Yon's pass inside to Heather Hemming with 3:49 remaining gave the Cardinals a 41-15 advantage.

W-M outscored Ironwood 13-3 in the third quarter and led 47-16.

Ironwood found a little offense in the final quarter. Kacie Lundin made a nice steal and drove to the basket for a score. Lauren Gauthier and Taylor Mylly combined to splash three triples.

Only DiGiorgio reached double figures for the Devils with 15.

Pete Yon was pleased with the balanced scoring from his team.

Korpi led W-M's offensive attack with 14, while Grace followed closely with 12 and Hallee and Kassidee Yon notched 10 points.

The Cardinals won the junior varsity game.

Ironwood (7-12, 6-10 IC) is at home against against Hancock in a non-conference final regular season game on Friday at 6:20 p.m.

The Cardinals (14-3, 13-3 IC) host Ewen-Trout Creek in a key Porcupine Mountain Conference game on Monday with a 6:30 tip-off.

Ironwood - Taylor Mylly 3, Kacie Lundin 4, Lauren Gauthier 5 , Erin Halverson1, Emily DiGiorgio 15. FTs:10-15, Fouls: 19, Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Gauthier 2, Mylly 1.

W-M - Sandra Libertoski 5, Darienne Korpi 14, Lauren Grace 12, Hallee Yon 10, Kassidee Yon 10, Heather Hemming 4, Kirsten Heil 3. FTs: 16-25, Fouls: 14, Fouled out: none, 3-pointers: Kassidee Yon.

Ironwood 6 13 16 28

W-M 10 34 47 58