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Negaunee Miners boys basketball team loses to 2nd straight quality opponent in Norway Knights

Negaunee’s Darius Provost, front right, and Norway’s Kevin Evosevich, front left, reach for the ball Thursday night at Lakeview Memorial Gym in Negaunee. (Journal photo by Jess Makela)

NEGAUNEE — The Norway Knights came to Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium Thursday undefeated and they were looking to make a statement.

They accomplished that feat emphatically as they handed Negaunee a 56-44 loss. With a 57-53 loss at Marquette on Monday, it gave the Miners back-to-back defeats for the first time since February 2011.

Connor Ortman led the Knights’ balanced attack with 22 points, while senior Dre Tuominen had 19 for Negaunee.

“We were basic enough on offense that we weren’t able to go to our primary look,” Knights coach Ben Leiker said. “Whenever you come into Negaunee and win a game, it’s an accomplishment. We haven’t lost in the (Mid-Peninsula) conference yet and that was one of our goals. It’s our last year in this conference, so we’d really like to do that.”

For the Miners, the game was a frustrating one as any time they seemed to generate momentum, Norway would quickly quash their hopes.

“I don’t know why, but we were slow out there,” Negaunee coach Dan Waterman said. “There would be a loose ball and they’d get it and put it in our bucket. It was almost like we were in quicksand out there.”

Tuominen had an effective first quarter shooting and helped Negaunee take a 13-11 lead into the second period. But it was the last time the Miners were ahead.

The Knights quickly had a 10-0 run to take the lead for good. Negaunee answered back with two baskets from senior Trent Bell and a three-point play by Tuominen, but the Knights still held a four-point lead at the half.

The third quarter was tight as it seemed as if the Miners were starting to slow down the Knights’ offense. A pair of 3-pointers from freshman Jason Waterman helped Negaunee cut its deficit to two.

Norway opened the fourth with a 7-0 run and also finished off the night with eight straight points.

Negaunee won the JV game 48-44 in overtime. The Miners play at Iron Mountain Tuesday, while Norway hosts Westwood.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

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