Devils hope to climb past Mountaineers in today's regional semi

IRONWOOD — When the Ironwood Red Devils defeated Calumet last week in the MHSAA Class C District 96 title game, it was the first time Ironwood had won back-to-back district tournaments since 1993 and 1994.

The last one came 21 years ago and Red Devil coach Pete Lewinski was in his first two years of coaching varsity basketball in Ironwood.

“The (team) records favored us and I thought we were a little tense in the first game,” Lewinski said. “We played not to lose. In the second game, we played much better and (Jake) DiGiorgio took over in the fourth quarter.”

Ironwood now marches into MHSAA Class C Region 24 play against Iron Mountain at Marquette High School today at 5 p.m. CDT. Ishpeming plays Boynce City following that.

Regional basketball is where all the weaker teams have fallen by the wayside and only the strong have survived.

In Region 24, Ironwood’s record is 19-3, Iron Mountain is 20-2, Boyne City has an 18-5 record and Ishpeming has posted a 15-7 mark. It all adds up to 72 wins and 17 losses, so there are no slouches in this bracket.

“We were happy to win the district championship and now we’re fortunate enough to play for the regional championship,” Lewinski said. “We are stressing to the kids that we have to make the most of this opportunity, because it doesn’t happen very often.”

The Red Devils are the only team from last year to be making a return trip to Region 24, but have only won four regional championships in their long basketball history. Those regional titles came in 1937, 1961, 1975 and 1976.

Regional tournaments are where the term ‘Survive and Advance’ comes into play. In 1983, the late, legendary college coach, Jim Valvano, led the North Carolina State Wolfpack through a series of nine one-point games to eventually win the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Valvano said his team’s only strategy was to somehow survive and win the game they were playing in and just keep advancing to the next one. It was a mindset that it was now or never and it became a rallying cry for his team in that remarkable season.

It also turned out to be a very good descriptor for Valvano’s spirit and drive as he survived and advanced, even in his bout and eventual death to cancer.

Lewinski has the high school version of ‘Survive and Advance.’

“You need the right frame of mind for the regionals,” Lewinski said. “Height-wise and physically, we match up well with teams in the region. Iron Mountain will be one of the best teams we’ve played. They’re right up there with Washburn and we have to meet their intensity. I think we have a shot to win it, but we have to be mentally focused and poised. And we need the energy and intensity. The games will be as much mental as physical. There will be peaks and valleys out there. Don’t let the negative things affect us and stay focused in the good times.”

Lewinski said that “hopefully’ his team is peaking for the regionals and there are two physical factors going their way. Ironwood’s defense has only been giving up 40.1 points per game and the Devils have the biggest front-line, since Lewinski first arrived back from Texas. DiGiorgio is 6-5 with a long wingspan, Matt Dary is 6-4 (but looks taller) and Jared Sobolewski is 6-2 and strong underneath. Both starting guards, Denver Sharrow and Colin Clausen, are over 6-0.

Lewinski thinks playing in last year’s regional games will be a valuable experience for this year’s team.

“It can’t hurt,” Lewinski said. “DiGiorgio and Sharrow were starters and Sob (Sobolewski) and Dary played good minutes. We beat Norway and lost to Negaunee. Two games where they got regional experience.”

Lewinski and assistant coach Ben Schmandt gave a scouting report on the three other teams in Region 24.

Iron Mountain was ranked was ranked No. 1 in the boys U.P. Class C poll most of the year before losing to Negaunee late in the year. Ironwood was ranked No. 5 in the final poll.

Lewinski said Iron Mountain’s 6-7 center, Jake Thoman, is a load. He is the team’s top rebounder and a good free throw shooter, which comes in handy because big men tend to get fouled a lot. Lewinski said Ironwood’s front line of DiGiorgio, Dary and Sobolewski will rotate guarding Thoman.

Sophomore forward Carson Wonders (6-3) is a big bruiser who is very talented and Lewinski said he may be the Mountaineers’ best player. The other forward is senior Brock Grenier and he is the team’s defensive specialist. Guard Tanner Huotari is IM’s second best player and is very athletic and a quick driver to the hoop.

Four of Iron Mountain’s players were selected as First or Second Team All-Conference in the Mid-Pen.

Ironwood was not able to scout Ishpeming in person, but they know there were plenty of good athletes on Ishpeming’s MHSAA Division 7 state runner-up football team. Ishpeming also beat a very good Negaunee team 32-31 in their district tournament final. Ishpeming had a 7-5 record in the tough Mid-Pen Conference and Ozzy Corp was the Player-of-the-Year in the conference.

Boyne City is in the Lower Peninsula and 219 miles away from Marquette. Schmandt estimated it would be over a four hour bus trip to Marquette. Boyne City won the Lake Michigan Conference with a 12-2 record. It beat East Jordan (17-6) in the district title game.

Boyne City’s best player, Corey Redman, did not play in that game and there wasn’t any word if he would play today against Ishpeming.

Lewinski said the Ironwood fans have been very supportive of the team this year.

“Our fans have been great,” Lewinski said. “That’s both students and adults and we thank them for their support.”

Lewinski said the Red Devils would appreciate any long-distance support they get in Marquette today.