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Negaunee girls basketball team looking to improve on last year’s success

Miners’ girls bring nearly every player back

With seconds left of the game, Negaunee's Aleda Johnson, center right, passes to her teammate Clara Johnson, far left, while Calumet's Clara Loukus, far right, and Leah Kiilunen continue to put on the pressure during the MHSAA Class C Regional Tournament on Tuesday evening March 8th, 2016 held at Marquette Senior High School. (Journal Photo by Valri Hanson)

With seconds left of the game, Negaunee's Aleda Johnson, center right, passes to her teammate Clara Johnson, far left, while Calumet's Clara Loukus, far right, and Leah Kiilunen continue to put on the pressure during the MHSAA Class C Regional Tournament on Tuesday evening March 8th, 2016 held at Marquette Senior High School. (Journal Photo by Valri Hanson)

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee High School varsity girls basketball team brings back most of its key players while trying to defend its Mid-Peninsula Conference championship — and more.

The Miners breezed through an undefeated 12-0 conference record last season in capturing the title, then won the Class C district championship before losing in a heartbreaking overtime regional title game to Calumet by one point.

It was a game coach Brandon Sager said he felt his team controlled.

Now Sager said the Miners are ready to take the next step up this season.

“Last year was a big leap for our program,” Sager said. “We accumulated a lot of achievements from big wins to the championship, and it would have been a big task for any team.

“We’ve had a sting on our mouths after the way it ended, and a lot of girls worked over the summer and are hungry to pick up where we left off.”

Aleda Johnson was Negaunee’s offensive leader, averaging 18 points per game, and returns at guard for her senior season.

“She’s stepped up into her leadership role,” Sager said. “She’s the spokesperson for the team and has put in a great summer to get even better on the court.”

The Miners have benefited from the play of guard Hailey Fezatt, who’s been named all-M-PC the last two seasons as she enters her senior year.

“Fezatt’s our ‘steady Eddy,'” Sager said. “She comes to work every day ready to go. She’s quiet and doesn’t say a whole lot, but she’s one of our most consistent players.”

Also returning as a senior is Madysen Kontio, who averaged 3.6 rebounds a game last season.

Sager said his senior group will carry the rest of the team with their years of experience.

“Our seniors are focused and know this is their last shot at putting something special together,” Sager said. “They’ve all been working hard every day and pushing everyone on the team.”

But seniors aren’t the only players returning with experience for Negaunee.

Forward Abby Nelson had an up-and-down freshman season on varsity, but was one of the explosive offensive players who helped carry Negaunee through their postseason run.

Aleda Johnson’s sister, Clara Johnson, is also starting for the Miners at the guard position for her junior year. She helped Negaunee’s offense run the floor as a sophomore.

The Miners are adding a few skilled players in junior forwards Ally Jacobson and Lynsee Dempsey, who will provide a double post presence that has Sager excited.

“They’re both very athletic and can run the floor many different ways,” Sager said. “I’ve never had two post players in the program under my tenure, and it will be a new strength for us.”

Negaunee opens its season tonight, hosting Gladstone at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium.

Sager said while the Miners want to reach last year’s achievements, they’re not looking past any single game.

“We’re focused on taking the season one game at a time and getting back to where we left off last season,” Sager said. “We want to win the conference as our first goal, than improve as the season goes along. It’s a good group with a lot of talent and potential.”

Ray Bressette can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243. His email address is rbressette@miningjournal.net.

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