That would mean the Negaunee girls basketball team should relish its opening victory in the MHSAA Division 3 district tournament on Monday.

The Miners downed Westwood 45-37 for their 16th straight win to run their record to 19-4.

But the victory was anything but easy, according to NHS head coach Mike O’Donnell.

“It was a typical tournament-type game — great atmosphere, back-and-forth action which came down to the last minute,” he said. “Both teams made runs and both teams had good responses to those runs.

Westwood's Kaylin Doney, front, eyes the basket after grabbing the rebound of a shot by teammate Makayla Fisher late in the fourth quarter of an MHSAA Division 3 district tournament girls basketball game played against Negaunee at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Monday. Defending for the Miners, mostly hidden behind Doney, is the Miners' Theresa Anderson. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

“We were lucky enough to get the last push; we made some free throws down the stretch as well.”

The main difference in the game was the Miners making free throws at the end after the Patriots (8-14) pulled within a point.

Over the entire fourth quarter, Negaunee made 7 of 9 free throws, after attempting — and making — just one free throw in the first three quarters combined.

The game’s leading scorer, Miners junior Ella Mason, made 3 of 3 free throws and a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 18 points. Negaunee’s next highest scorer was sophomore Aubrey Johnson with eight points, which included a pair of 3s.

Westwood was led by junior Megan Marta, who scored 14 points after making 6 of 6 free throws. The Patriots as a group were 7 of 9 at the line.

Sophomore teammate Lexi Olson added 10 points including two triples, while freshman Kaylin Doney had six points.

“Westwood changed defenses and our girls did a great job finding some very easy baskets against their zones,” O’Donnell said as the Miners turned a narrow 8-7 lead after one quarter into a 23-16 advantage at halftime.

But led by eight points from Marta in the third quarter, Westwood pulled within 28-27 entering the final period.

With Ishpeming defeating Gwinn 47-32 on the other side of this Modeltowners-hosted bracket, tonight’s games feature Calumet at Negaunee and Hancock at Ishpeming, both at 6 p.m.

The Ishpeming-Hancock winner gets to host the district championship at 6 p.m. Friday.

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