The Republic-Michigamme High School girls varsity basketball team includes, from left, Anna Laakso, Taylor Lequia, Allie Radcliffe, Tailyn Raisanen, Rachel Mattila, Leah McCracken, Abigail Oslund and Shaylee Gransinger. The team's head coach is April Radcliffe. (Photo courtesy April Radcliffe)

Republic-Michigamme girls

2019-20 schedule

All times Eastern

Home games in bold

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Dec. 3 — Lake Linden-Hubbell, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 — at Chassell, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 10 — at North Dickinson, 8 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Jeffers, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 13 — at Mid Peninsula, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 10 — Mid Peninsula, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 — at Baraga, 7:20 p.m.

Jan. 16 — at L’Anse, 7:20 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at Superior Central, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21 — at Ewen-Trout Creek, TBA

Jan. 24 — Dollar Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 — at Jeffers, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 3 — at Ontonagon, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 4 — Watersmeet, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 — Chassell, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 — Bessemer, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 — at Lake Linden-Hubbell, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 20 — at Wakefield-Marenisco, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 24 — at Dollar Bay, 7:20 p.m.

Feb. 27 — Baraga, 7:30 p.m.

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REPUBLIC — With each passing year, the Republic-Michigamme girls basketball program continues to make progress.

That’s the goal for this season as well.

After picking up three wins last year, the Hawks are hoping to do even better and head coach April Radcliffe thinks she has a good group.

“My key players are going to be Tailyn Raisanen and Allie Radcliffe,” she said. “I have two new players that’ll play for us this year in Leah McCracken as a sophomore and Anna Laakso as a senior. I’m hoping that they can add a little extra this year.

“They bring some height and some underneath rebounding skills. They’ll help take the load off Tailyn and Allie and help them to bring the ball up the court.”

Practice has been going on for several weeks and Radcliffe says her team is just focusing on the basics, but she’s excited for the season to start.

“We are working on defense and we’re also working on how to pass the ball effectively,” she said. “How to catch, look and shoot and to just start making some offensive moves this year.

“I am really looking forward to it. I’m fortunate enough to have two teams (with a JV) this year. We had more girls than I thought. So it’s going to go be a good year, I think.”

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