Negaunee’s Chas Kumplula, left, and Westwood’s Zachary Beckman go for a rebound during their Mid-Peninsula Conference boys basketball game played at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Wednesday evening. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

UPSSA Basketball Polls

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BOYS

Divisions 1-3 W-L Pts Pvs

1. Iron Mountain (7) 14-0 35 1

2. Negaunee 14-1 28 2

3. Marquette 15-3 21 3

4. Escanaba 11-6 13 4

5. Munising 15-1 5 —

Others receiving votes: Westwood (9-6) 3

Division 4 W-L Pts Pvs

1. Dollar Bay (7) 15-0 35 1

2. Pickford 12-2 28 2

3. Rudyard 12-3 20 3

4. Chassell 12-3 12 5

5. North Central 10-4 8 —

Others receiving votes: Rapid River (9-5) 1; Carney-Nadeau (10-7) 1

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GIRLS

Divisions 1-3 W-L Pts Pvs

1. Menominee (7) 16-0 35 1

2. Westwood 15-1 26 2

3. Sault Ste. Marie 15-1 23 3

4. Calumet 13-3 12 —

5. Negaunee 13-4 8 4

Others receiving votes: Escanaba (9-6) 1

Division 4 W-L Pts Pvs

1. St. Ignace (7) 13-2 35 1

2. Ewen-Trout Creek 15-1 28 2

3. Baraga 16-2 20 3

4. Pickford 14-2 14 4

5. North Dickinson 14-2 8 5

Others receiving votes: None

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MARQUETTE — The Munising boys re-entering the top five is the biggest story among area teams in this week’s Upper Peninsula high school basketball polls voted upon by select members of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

The Mustangs, who play in the mostly Division 4 Skyline Central Conference, have by a small enrollment margin been thrust into the Divisions 1-3 polling this season.

That’s made it tough for the Alger County team to crack the top five despite having just one loss.

Now Munising has re-entered in fifth place at 15-1 after road wins at Superior Central and Mid Peninsula last week.

The Mustangs displaced Westwood (9-6), which fell to the “others receiving votes” category after a close loss at No. 2 Negaunee and an even closer win at Manistique in the past week.

The Miners and No. 3 Marquette (15-3) held their positions as Negaunee also posted a victory at Ishpeming while the Redmen added a trio of wins — at Gladstone and at home over Escanaba and Green Bay, Wisconsin, East.

Among the girls in Divisions 1-3, while Westwood (15-1) remained at No. 2, Negaunee (13-4) slipped a spot to fifth.

The Patriots won at both Iron Mountain and Manistique last week as Monday’s close win over Gwinn was played after voting took place.

Negaunee lost in overtime at Calumet (13-3), which moved into the top five at No. 4, while winning at Iron Mountain.

In girls Division 4, Baraga (16-2) maintained its No. 3 position with victories at Wakefield-Marenisco and Lake Linden-Hubbell, while L’Anse (13-4) lost its votes and fell out of the “others” list despite winning its only game over W-M by more than 50 points.

The leaders in each poll continue to be unanimous picks — the Iron Mountain and Dollar Bay boys and the Menominee and St. Ignace girls.

The Negaunee boys had been the only area teams appearing in the Associated Press’ statewide polls, which like the UPSSA’s are released each Tuesday.

The Miners sit No. 9 in the boys’ Division 3 rankings but now have been joined by Westwood in the “others” list in girls Division 3, technically tied for 12th.

Other ranked U.P. teams include, for the boys, Iron Mountain, No. 2 in Division 3; and Dollar Bay tied for No. 2, Pickford No. 8 and Rudyard No. 9 in Division 4.

For the girls, they are Menominee, No. 3 in Division 2; and St. Ignace No. 2 and Ewen-Trout Creek tied for No. 8 in Division 4.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.