Escanaba Daily Press

ISHPEMING — Playing the No. 1 team in all of MHSAA Division 4 is a tall task.

For Bark River-Harris, the No. 2 Divisions 1-3 team in the Upper Peninsula, it’s a challenge the Broncos took on on Tuesday. But they did it shorthanded.

In fact, BR-H was forced to tackle the Hematites’ vaunted diamond press without starting point guard Nina Bower, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in a win over Munising last Friday.

Ishpeming's Kadie Kaukola, left, and Jenessa Eagle, right, guard an unidentified Bark River-Harris ball handler during their high school girls basketball game played at the Hematites' gym in Ishpeming on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The visitors were forced to put players into new roles on the road against the best in the state.

The Broncos committed 23 turnovers and finished 14 of 26 at the free throw line as Ishpeming prevailed 54-51.

“Turnovers and free throws, a lot of times, will kill you,” Broncos coach Matt Richer said. “That kind of killed us in the end.”

“This was a great game for both programs,” Ishpeming coach Ryan Reichel said. “Luckily (BR-H) is in Division 3 and we’re in Division 4. At the end of the day, we’ll be better come March. I think they will be as well.”

After a nail-biting first half when BR-H senior Lauren Zawada netted 14 of her game-best 25 points, the Hematites began to break away in the third quarter. With an 8-0 run behind a triple from senior Payton Manninen and a layup from sophomore Mya Hemmer, the Broncos were forced to burn a timeout down 41-33 a handful of second into the fourth.

Desperate for a spark, BR-H senior Faith Javurek drove to the hole for a layup. While she missed, senior Ava McDonough, starting in place of Bower, secured the rebound, drained a layup and picked up the foul for an and-1 opportunity, breathing life back into the Bronco bench and its fans.

McDonough made the free throw to complete the three-point play and shave the deficit to 41-36 with 7:27 to go.

The Hematites responded with a 6-0 run. Behind a layup and jumper from sophomore Janessa Eagle and a steal turned into a layup from Hemmer in the middle of Eagle’s baskets, Ishpeming rebuilt a double-digit lead at 47-36 with 5:35 remaining.

“We were getting frustrated because we weren’t getting the breaks that we needed,” Richer said. “We were tired, and then we turned it over a few times.”

With Ishpeming still ahead 49-39 with 4:25 to go, the Broncos mustered one last mighty push.

Senior Mckenzie Hoffmeyer connected on a 3-pointer, then BR-H forced a turnover on the Hematites’ ensuing possession. Zawada made a putback layup to cut the deficit to 49-44 with 3:40 to go.

Thirty-one seconds later, Hoffmeyer struck again from 3-point land to make what was once Ishpeming’s double-digit lead into a one-possession game with three minutes remaining.

After the Hematites connected from downtown to push the advantage back to five, the Broncos split a pair from the free throw line to make it a four-point game.

Zawada then fired a shot with 30 seconds left. She missed, but Javurek gathered the rebound and connected with a layup to cut the deficit to 52-50. After making a steal on Ishpeming’s next possession, Zawada drove to the basket and went for a layup. Eagle fouled her to prevent the tie.

But it put Zawada at the line with a chance to tie the game, while Eagle was forced to the bench after committing her fifth foul with 15.7 seconds to go.

Zawada made the first gifter. The deficit was down to 52-51. Reichel called timeout to go over what could happen next.

Zawada walked back to the line. She missed the second. The ball wound up in the hands of Ishpeming senior Jenna Maki, who was fouled with 10.7 seconds left.

Maki made both free throws to balloon the lead back to 54-51.

The Broncos advanced the ball to halfcourt with 8.9 seconds to go. Richer called timeout to set up a potential last play.

BR-H junior Marissa Ives attempted to place the ball high enough where only Zawada could catch it, but the pass was two inches too high.

Zawada was unable to make a one-handed snag as the ball deflected off her hand and into the hands of Ishpeming senior Kadie Kaukola, who dribbled the ball out to bleed the clock out.

“I think both teams got better,” Reichel said. “(The Hematites) found that they can dig down deep.”

Even with the loss, the Broncos finish the regular season at 20-2. In its first game without Bower, they still found a way to go blow for blow on the roada with one of the U.P.’s finest.

“Everyone’s in a new position, and it was a good test for us because now we know what we need to work on. It’ll get us ready for districts,” Richer said. “I told the girls in the locker room that I’m so proud of them. They didn’t give up. They could’ve folded, and they have the heart of champions.”

Lauren Zawada recorded a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“She has a great motor,” Reichel said of the Broncos’ player. “She makes it really hard on you because she never stops. When she’s tired you must be dying because she doesn’t get tired.

“I thought tonight she kept them going, moving around and kept our defense honest.”