Ishpeming has found itself atop the summit once again, with the girls basketball team claiming a state title on Saturday.

Throughout this season, Hematites head coach Ryan Reichel and his senior class set out to do something no squad in the history of the school had done while galvanizing a community through it all.

This Ishpeming group fulfilled that dream, using a dominant second half to earn a 73-54 win over Kingston in the MHSAA Division 4 state championship game at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.

A program that won just five games four years ago and hadn’t won a regional since 1974 is now on top of the state, becoming the first Upper Peninsula school to win a girls basketball state title since Calumet and St. Ignace both turned the feat in 2015.

“It really does feel great,” Hematites senior Jenna Maki said. “Just like this experience, it feels surreal right now. It’s amazing to see all the fans and all our community who made it down here. It’s a great feeling.”

As it had all season, Ishpeming was led by the duo of Maki and sophomore Jenessa Eagle.

Eagle scored 27 points and went 5 of 12 from 3-point range, while Maki finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and team highs of six assists and six steals.

Kingston head coach Jay Green paid what is an incredible compliment to the Hematites after the game.

“I told their coach after the game that they can make the final four in Division 1, 2, 3 or 4,” Green said. “That team is outstanding. Everybody knows that.”

Despite what the final score ultimately was, the Hematites had to navigate through a big pothole in the first half. The team had trouble scoring early, possibly a result of nerves from being on such a big stage. Kingston went on a 16-2 run late in the first quarter to take a 22-11 lead going into the second quarter.

A big moment came with 2:34 remaining in the second when Maki had to leave the game after picking up her third foul.

Kingston held a 26-21 lead at that point, with Maki having 16 of her team’s 21 points.

But Ishpeming rallied with Maki on the bench, outscoring Kingston 10-4 the rest of the quarter to take a 31-30 lead at halftime.

Eagle and senior Kaitlyn Van Deuren each hit 3-pointers to start the rally, and then Eagle and senior Payton Manninen each added 2-point baskets for the Hematites.

The third quarter was all Hematites.

Ishpeming forced six turnovers in the first two minutes of the second half to take a 39-30 lead with 6:21 to go in the third.

Eagle then caught fire from the outside, draining a couple of deep 3s to give the Hematites a 47-34 advantage with 3:35 remaining in the third.

Ishpeming ultimately took a 58-46 lead into the fourth quarter, with Eagle scoring 15 of her team’s 27 points in the third.

“I was really getting into wanting to win,” Eagle said. “I was wanting to do it for my team. I wasn’t really thinking that much. I was just going out and doing what I practiced.”

The Hematites kept up the pressure at both ends of the court in the fourth, going on a 10-0 run to take a 73-50 lead with 3:21 remaining to essentially start the celebration.

No doubt, the joy in Ishpeming will continue for the coming weeks, months and years for a team that the community will never forget.

“I took a coaching job nine years ago here, and the first thing somebody said was, ‘Welcome to the family,'” Reichel said. “I didn’t really understand it and when I got there, I embraced it.

“You saw that crowd today, that was a lot of blue out there. They are driving seven hours with expensive gas prices, hotels and food when they can be on spring break.

“They came to support these girls because these girls are part of their family.”

We would like to congratulate the Lady Hematites on a well-earned title, the obvious result of hard work over the course of many years. Those countless hours in practice have paid off, with these girls claiming their throne at the pinnacle of their sport.

Enjoy this moment — you deserve it.