Way to go, Westwood Patriots girls basketball team. Dispatching opponents with great defense and a well-tuned offense, the Patriots have advanced to the state quarterfinals after whipping Charlevoix, 47-29, Wednesday night to claim the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 regional championship.

Early this season, the Patriots may not have been on the radar of teams from below the Mighty Mackinac Bridge but one thing’s for certain: They are now.

The Patriots exemplify teamwork. They are led by Mid-Peninsula Conference most valuable player Tessa Leece, but she gladly shares the ball — and the limelight — with the other young women on the team, guided by coach Kurt Corcoran.

Westwood also makes the Upper Peninsula proud with the sportsmanship they demonstrate every time they take to the court. To us, that’s an important facet of any athletic pursuit.

Next up, the 24-1 Patriots will travel to Gaylord Tuesday night to face Lake City. We know the gym will be packed with fans sporting the red, white and blue cheering loudly as Westwood works to advance to the state semifinals Thursday at Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids.

Congratulations to coach Corcoran and his team on all they have accomplished thus far. The team has worked hard to get where they are. It’s wonderful to see when that kind of hard work pays off.