Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JASON JUNO
Ironwood — The younger team led all night, but the more experienced group made the plays in crunch time as Ironwood rallied past Wakefield-Marenisco for an improbable 50-48 season-opening win Monday night.
The Cardinals led 48-39 after a Chase Lane 3 early in the fourth quarter, but they didn’t score again.
W-M turned it over to Ironwood with 58.5 seconds left and the Devils’ returning All-U.P. player, Axton Ruotsala, pulled up for a long 2 to tie the game at 48. He then stole the inbound pass, giving Ironwood a chance to win it. Ironwood called timeout and Brendan McCullough made an easy layup off the inbound pass from underneath the basket for the 50-48 lead.
Ironwood coach Adam Mackey said he knew they would be focusing on their top scoring threats, Ruotsala and Nick Miskvoich, who led all scorers with 15 points Monday night.
“So try to get those guys away from the rim there. It’s a play we call husky; I gotta give credit to Mr. Lew,” Mackey said, referring to former coach Pete Lewinski, who was watching from behind the Ironwood bench. “We ran that quite a bit when I was in high school. We scored a lot of points off it and we’re still scoring points off it. It’s just a simple play, screen the screener and it worked very well tonight.”
W-M had chances to tie or take the lead, but weren’t able to convert.
“It’s unacceptable the way we lost,” W-M coach Pat Libertoski said. “I’m pleased we were in the game, yes, Ironwood’s going to be one of the best teams we play probably. But we led the whole time, and we just, composure. I know that’s part of being young. We got to grow from it and it’s going to make us better hopefully.”
The Red Devils were able to get a victory on a night they weren’t playing very well.
“We missed a few easy ones inside early, missed some free throws,” Mackey said. “I thought our defense was solid, we played good defense. Gotta give credit to Wakefield, those guys made some tough shots. I was especially impressed with Bode Lynott tonight. I thought he had a great game, not necessarily shooting 3s, just getting to the rim, about 8-10 feet away he was money all night.”
Lynott led the Cardinals with 13 points and Brock Pangrazzi recorded a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Landon Buerger finished with 10 points for the Devils. He was part of Ironwood’s improved offensive effort in the second half, which Mackey credited to him and Miskovich getting to the rim.
“I think Nick did a great job of it, especially starting the second half, getting to the rim. I think Landon Buerger took note after that and he was able to get to the rim,” Mackey said.
Ironwood may be the more experienced team with much of their team returning from last year. But they are still adjusting to a new season and replacing the strong interior production of the graduated Kurt Bissell.
“That’s something we’re going to have to replace throughout the year, it’s not going to be just one guy, though,” Mackey said. “I thought Evan Oja did a great job. Robert Roberts came in in the first quarter, he did a good job solidifying that middle. Brendan and Nick Miskovich did a tremendous job inside rebounding and making those shots inside tough for Wakefield.”
Ironwood (1-0) goes to Ewen-Trout Creek for a Friday night matchup.
W-M (0-1) goes to Ontonagon Thursday.
W-M — Brock Pangrazzi 11, Bode Lynott 13, Chase Lane 8, Garrett Prisbe 3, Pat Perron 6, Tanner LaMaide 7. FTs: 5-9. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: LaMaide. 3-pointers: Lynott 2, Lane 2, Pangrazzi 1, Prisbe 1, LaMaide 1.
Ironwood — Evan Oja 4, Axton Ruotsala 6, Brendan McCullough 9, Nick Miskovich 15, Joey Lauzon 6, Landon Buerger 10. FTs: 5-10. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Buerger 1, Lauzon 1, Miskovich 1.
W-M 6 29 45 48
Ironwood 10 22 37 50
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Ewen — The Ewen-Trout Creek boys picked up their first win of the season with a 68-18 victory over Lake Linden-Hubbell Monday night.
The Panthers’ full-court pressure sped the Lakes up and turned them over, allowing E-TC to turn defense into offense.
“Lake Linden’s a bit down,” E-TC coach Brad Besonen said. “They had a good crew that had been starting since sophomore year. They’ve got some rebuilding to do there.”
Thomas Logghe led the Panthers with 18 points, Austin Gordon scored 13 and Brody Majurin 11.
All of Logghe’s points came in the first half.
“We rode Thomas for a nice little stretch,” Besonen said. They also had good balance with 10 of their 11 players scoring.
E-TC (1-1) hosts Ironwood Friday night.
LL-H — St. Onge 2, Davis 4, Gariepy 1, Hainault 11. FTs: 2-6. Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: None.
E-TC — Caden Besonen 8, Cooper Moilanen 4, Cameron Logghe 4, Brody Majurin 11, Jamis Scott 4, William Anderson Jr. 2, Austin Gordon 13, Riley Voigt 2, Chase Goll 2, Thomas Logghe 18. FTs: 3-8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Majurin 1.
LL-H 4 6 14 18
E-TC 20 46 54 68
— — —
Bessemer — The Bessemer Speedboys dropped their season opener 43-35 to Calumet Monday night.
Bessemer led 23-16 at the half, but they only scored six points in each of the final two quarters.
The Copper Kings won with good defense, hustle and rebounding like usual, Bessemer coach Richard Matrella said.
“They were able to get some things near the basket,” he said. “Really the difference in the game is they outworked us on a couple plays and got a couple turnovers in the second half and some easy baskets.
Bessemer’s Gus Matrella was 3 of 4 from 3 and scored 10 points and Leland Hollenbeck also had 10.
Bessemer (0-1) goes to Watersmeet Thursday night.
Calumet — Sturos 8, Halonen 2, Larson 2, Koskela 8, Pieti 15, Rajala 3, Stafford 5. FTs: 2-7. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Sturos 2, Rajala 1.
Bessemer — Jayden Verrett 9, Gus Matrella 10, Ben Kaurala 2, Gabe Harju 2, Aiden Partanen 2, Leland Hollenbeck 10. FTs: 2-4. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Matrella 3.
Calumet 10 16 27 43
Bessemer 13 23 29 35
L’ANSE — The Ontonagon boys lost a high-scoring game 88-82 in overtime at L’Anse Monday night.
The Gladiators’ Jack Nelson led all scorers with 36 points and Carson Uotila had 29.
“Jack and Carson carried us with points, but it was really a solid defensive effort from our starting five that kept us in it,” Ontonagon coach Ethen Mapes said. “L’Anse is a completely new basketball team and they shot exceptionally well tonight throughout their roster.”
Ontonagon (0-2) hosts Wakefield-Marenisco Thursday night.
Ontonagon — Jack Nelson 36, Kyle Nelson 6, Carson Uotila 29, Jace Pestka 8, Dyceson Drew 3. FTs: 19-29. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: J. Nelson 1.
L’Anse — Beeler 8, Larson 18, Lee 12, Sweeney 16, Supanich 2, Davison 16, Kamppainen 3, Cotta 13. FTs: 12-22. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Lee, Sweeney, Cotta. 3-pointers: Larson 4, Beeler 1, Supanich 2, Davison 2, Cotta 1.
Ontonagon 20 30 54 75 82
L’Anse 17 39 56 75 88
