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Negaunee, Munising girls pull away from opposition

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee High School girls basketball team hung close until it could gets its offense untracked to take a 50-36 victory over Sault Ste. Marie at Lakeview Memorial Gym in Negaunee on Tuesday.

“The Soo started more ready than we were,” Miners coach Brandon Sager said. “They brought some pressure and we didn’t play together in the first half.

“But we played decently solid defense the whole game. And we started to generate some offense in the third quarter.”

Negaunee (10-0) led 10-7 after one quarter and 20-18 at halftime before going on runs of 18-12 for the third quarter and 12-6 in the fourth.

A key to staying close was also the play of the Miners’ Abby Nelson, who scored a game-high 18 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

“She was 7 of 12 shooting,” Sager said. “So she played solidly for us from the field.”

Teammate Natalie Bartle added 17 points, while Clara Johnson had nine.

Mackenzie Kalchik, Cecelia Werner and Ashtyn Bell paced the Blue Devils (5-5) with eight points apiece.

Sault Ste. Marie won the JV game 41-35.

Negaunee plays at Westwood on Friday.

Munising 51, Manistique 36

At Munising, Mustangs coach Matt Mattson wasn’t satisfied with his team’s play, but they could afford a bit of an off-night after charging to a 19-5 lead after one quarter.

“It was not one of our better games,” Mattson said, “but give Manistique credit, they played hard from start to finish.”

Munising (8-1) rode the scoring shoulders of Kianne Wendt, the only Mustang to get into double figures with 27 points. Marissa Ackerman paced Munising rebounders with six.

“Kianne scored 20 points in the first, she really got us going in this ball game,” Mattson said.

Renae Schuetter led the Emeralds (0-9) with 10 points and six rebounds.

Manistique won the JV game 55-28.

Both teams return to the court for conference games on Friday. Munising plays at Skyline Central foe Rapid River while the Emeralds host Mid-Peninsula opponent Ishpeming.

Baraga 60, Republic-Michigamme 35

At Republic, the Vikings got production from their entire lineup as senior guard Chelsea Pittsley led the way with 16 points.

The Hawks (0-9) trailed by just two points after one quarter, 11-9, as Baraga (6-4) extended it to only 23-17 at halftime.

But the Vikings notched their sixth straight victory after an 0-4 start by recording a 37-18 scoring edge in the second half.

Freshman guards Rylie Koskinen and Jaylyne Lindemann and senior guard Alex Jahfetson all scored eight points for the Vikings.

Sophomore Tailyn Raisanen led the Hawks with 14 points while junior Nikki Wertanen added eight.

Baraga also won the JV contest 43-13.

R-M hosts Watersmeet on Thursday while Baraga goes to Jeffers on Friday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee and Journal Sports Writer Ryan Spitza. Email them at sports@miningjournal.net.

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