Negaunee’s Madi Smith, right, knocks the ball loose from Westwood’s Megan Marta in the second quarter of their high school basketball game played at the Patriots’ gym in Ishpeming on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

ISHPEMING — Balanced scoring and a tight defense helped Negaunee ease past Westwood 48-27 in a high school girls basketball game played at the Patriots’ gym on Friday night.

The Miners’ Lilly Nelson led all scorers with 12 points, but teammates Emilia Palomaki and Morgan Carlson were right behind with 11 points apiece.

Negaunee’s top scorer, Alyssa Hill, was held to six points.

The Miners established leads of 12-9 after one quarter and 24-17 at halftime before breaking things open in the third, outscoring Westwood 14-2 for a 38-19 advantage headed into the fourth.

“Negaunee came out of the gates hot,” WHS coach Kurt Corcoran said. “I think they only missed a handful of shots in the first half. We just couldn’t match the flow. Then Negaunee came out stronger in the second half.”

Ellie Miller paced Westwood with 10 points as no other Patriots player had more than four points.

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Baraga 41, Ontonagon 38

At Ontonagon on Saturday, Rylie Koskinen sank four 3-pointers for 15 points to lead the Vikings after the game was tied 27-27 entering the fourth.

Despite its fairly low score, this was a game of long-range shooting as the host Gladiators made eight triples and Baraga made seven.

Koskinen made two 3s in the final quarter to get her team over the top.

Ella Menigoz paced Ontonagon with 19 points, including five treys.

The Gladiators took a 16-14 lead after the first quarter, when Koskinen and Menigoz each hit two 3s before the Vikings’ defense stymied the home team as they took a 23-17 halftime advantage.

Jaylyne Lindemann led Baraga rebounders with six as she added two blocked shots, while Koskinen and Rylie Osterman each made four assists.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.