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Comeback nets Ishpeming Hematites a boys basketball victory at Westwood

ISHPEMING — Ishpeming dominated on the scoreboard in the second half to erase a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat Westwood 52-45 in a makeup high school boys basketball game played at the Patriots’ gym on Monday.

“They started off strong,” Hematites coach Anthony Katona said about the Pats’ 34-24 halftime advantage. “Westwood really clamped down on defense in the first half.

“We were able to start getting down the floor faster and pushed the ball a little more in the third quarter. It was just a matter of executing better on the offensive end.”

Patriots’ coach Chad Hewitt agreed with that basic sentiment, saying Northern Michigan University-bound 6-foot-5 senior guard Hart Holmgren of Ishpeming made a big difference after halftime.

“In the first half, our defense moved well and rotated well,” Hewitt said. “Then in the second half, Holmgren had 12 points by himself in the third quarter.

“It’s no accident that Northern wants him.”

Katona said that after the Hematites (12-6, 9-3 Mid-Peninsula Conference) managed to wrest the lead away in the final minutes of the third quarter, most of the fourth was closely contested.

“Both sides were having a hard time hitting their free throws,” the Ishpeming coach said, “but Darius Yohe hit two big ones with about a minute to go for us.”

Holmgren finished with a game-high 21 points, while junior Gavin Sundberg added 14 points and senior Dondre Yohe 13 as just four Hematites scored. Ishpeming clinched no worse than a tie for second place in the M-PC with the victory.

Senior David Delarye paced Westwood (9-9, 5-6) with 14 points and eight rebounds, while senior Cameron Mason and junior Nathan Beckman added 11 points apiece.

Westwood won the JV game 46-41.

The Hematites host West Iron County tonight before traveling to Escanaba on Thursday. The Patriots go to L’Anse on Thursday.

The two teams are on opposite sides of the Class C district tournament bracket to be played in Negaunee next week. On Wednesday, March 7, Ishpeming plays Gwinn at 6 p.m. with Westwood taking on the host Miners at 7:30 p.m. The championship is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, March 9.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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