Negaunee’s Trent Bell, front, set to take a shot against Ishpeming’s Hart Holmgren on Feb. 10 at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee. (Journal file photo by Rachel Oakley)

“They’re an offensive machine, so we’ll have our hands full.” — Dan Waterman, Negaunee coach, on tonight’s opponent Manton

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NEGAUNEE — Negaunee High School will tip off in the Class C boys basketball state quarterfinals tonight for the first time in three years, and the first under head coach Dan Waterman, when they go up against the Manton Rangers in Petoskey.

Waterman said his team has spent the past five days adding to their technique before their travel downstate in a matchup of 20-4 teams.

“We’ve been working a lot on ourselves and our game,” Waterman said. “There’s some defensive stuff we need to be able to do moving forward.

“We’re putting in a few sets in case Manton gets some regional film and plays the same defense, so we have some new looks we think will make us a little more successful.”

The Miners will be up against a Manton team that is led on offense with junior guards Jayden Perry and Hunter Ruell, while 6-foot-5 Wyatt Baker gives the Rangers height at center.

“They’re obviously very good, because you don’t get to the quarterfinals by accident,” Waterman said. “They’re led by their two guards who are very good and quick shooters. Their whole team is like that. They shoot very well and throw up a lot of 3s. We match up well with them from that standpoint.

“Our guards are bigger, but their forwards are bigger than ours. They’re an offensive machine, so we’ll have our hands full.”

Waterman feels confident with his team led by 6-foot-7 Trent Bell and 6-foot Dre Tuominen, who have played large roles on the Miners eight-game winning streak they bringing to Petoskey.

In the Miners’ 53-43 win over Iron Mountain in Wednesday’s Class C regional championship, Bell racked up 19 points while Tuominen added 18.

“They are our two best players, and they’re going to have to continue leading,” Waterman said. “You expect and hope they’re playing their best right now and will lead in the tournament. They have the most experience both in and out of season, and they have seen a lot.

“If we’re going to continue our success, it’s going to be because they’re playing well.”

With a height advantage over Manton’s guards, Waterman said the game is set up for his senior leaders to succeed if they play at the top of their games.

“We have a pretty good matchup for both our guys,” Waterman said. “We’ll have to get the ball inside for Trent and get him to the basket. Dre will have to keep coming off the dribble, and ball movement will be key.

“We’re going to need careful passes while moving the ball to break (Manton) down and get ourselves looks down low.”

The Miners planned to stop in St. Ignace for a shootaround during today’s trek downstate before lining up in Petoskey with a trip to the state tournament’s final four on the line.

And though no current Miner was on the 2013-14 roster that not only made it but won their second straight quarterfinal, Waterman said his team will be prepared for the stage they’re playing on.

“Our guys have to realize it’s a basketball game like any other,” the coach said. “It’s exciting to play in this atmosphere, but we have to settle in and focus on the stuff inside the lines.

“You have to tune out the fans and make it as normal as possible, and whoever does that first will have the advantage in the game.

“Emotions have to be under control and even keel(ed), and we’ve done a good job of that. We have to keep our composure but stay aggressive at the same time, and whoever gets that under their belts will turn out huge.”

Ray Bressette can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251. His email address is rbressette@miningjournal.net.