Ewen-Trout Creek’s Eric Abramson, left, and Jaden Borseth right, struggle for the ball with Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Gabe Popko in the first quarter of their MHSAA Division 4 regional semifinal game played at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Monday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

NEGAUNEE — Ewen-Trout Creek used an 18-0 run heading into halftime to build a big lead and roll to a 71-31 win over Lake Linden-Hubbell in an MHSAA Division 4 boys basketball regional tournament semifinal game on Monday evening at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee.

After the teams were tied 10-10 after one quarter, the Panthers (20-3) still only led 17-16 in the middle of the second period. But that was when E-TC’s defensive pressure finally got going down the stretch of the first half to suddenly produce a 35-16 advantage at the intermission.

“I’m really happy for our guys, they worked their tails off (all) the way through,” E-TC coach Brad Besonen said. “We’ve been playing excellent basketball lately with lots of defensive intensity. That’s what carried us tonight. It started the run in the second and it just kept on going from there.”

A big reason for that streak was the play of the Panthers’ Eric Abramson, who dropped in a game-high 18 points coming off the bench and really helped break the game open. The Panthers scored 25 points in the second quarter, Abramson dropping in 11 of them.

“It’s big, he’s a scorer for us,” Besonen said. “His ability (on) the floor has added another dynamic to deal with on the offensive end. In the second quarter, we got it slinging a little bit, had some good skips and swings.

“He ripped it strong to the rim, got through contact and was finishing everything.”

When Lake Linden-Hubbell (13-9) handled the pressure well and Marcus Sutherland scored eight of his team-high 11 points in the first quarter, the game was tied. Danny Marcotte and Mason Codere hit two triples to keep it a one-point game, but the Lakes then seemed to lose their composure. E-TC was able to build its big lead with full-court pressure as different looks had the Lakes out of sorts.

“It was their pressure, we had handled their pressure in the first quarter, they had switched presses and gave us a different look,” LL-H coach Jack Kumpula said. “We just couldn’t handle it very well, it was just the constant pressure that broke us down.”

The Lakes scored 10 points in the opening frame, but were held to only 21 more over the final three quarters. On the other hand, E-TC’s offense only started after the first period. The Panthers scored 25 points in the second and 26 more in the third. Abramson scored seven more points in the third to pace his team once again, while teammate Brendan Polkky continued to have a solid game with five points in the third after 10 first-half points.

After Abramson’s 18 points, and Polkky added 15, Kelsey Jilek 11 and Caden Besonen 10. Even more impressive in a Panthers’ win was that Jaden Borseth only scored nine points.

“That’s a very strong team, they’re all seniors, and we’re very, very young,” Kumpula said. “It was hard when they turned up the pressure, we just didn’t have an answer.”

Sutherland led the Lakes with 11 points with Marcotte and Codere each scoring five.

The Panthers advance to the regional final at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Negaunee against the North Central (19-4). The Jets defeated Munising 49-33 in Monday’s other regional semi in Negaunee.

“This was one of our goals to get here, to this point,” Besonen said. “We’ve been kind of ready for that, and I’m just happy for our guys. When they were sophomores, they were a crew like Lake Linden’s there trying to break through and did a good job of that. For them to get here now, this group of seniors has the opportunity to just let it rip and just see what happens, I’m so happy for them.”

Travis Nelson can be reached by email at tnelson@miningjournal.net.