Negaunee’s Ella Mason looks for a path to the basket during the Miners’ MHSAA Division 2 semfinal girls basketball game played against Detroit Edison at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center in East Lansing on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

EAST LANSING — The Negaunee High School girls basketball team knew it had a stern challenge when the Miners faced off against the state’s No. 1-ranked Detroit Edison in Friday’s MHSAA Division 2 semifinal.

Negaunee was able to hang around for awhile, but eventually their opponent’s size and athleticism were too much to overcome in a 63-46 loss at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.

“They are very good, and we respect their program,” Miners coach Mike O’Donnell said. “They showed why they are one of the top teams in the state, and their size bothered us. We haven’t seen that size this year, the closest was Ishpeming, and their quickness and athleticism in transition.”

Negaunee, playing in its first girls basketball semifinal in school history, finished the season with a 26-2 record with their only other loss coming against fellow West PAC and Mid-Peninsula Conference member — and next-door neighbor — Ishpeming.

The Hematites are playing for the Division 4 state title this morning.

On Friday, the Miners allowed a season-high in points after entering Friday allowing only 35 points per game.

Negaunee trailed 10-7 after the first quarter, but fell further behind and trailed by double digits in each of the next two quarters.

“We couldn’t get things going our way,” O’Donnell said. “I thought we battled with them and we proved that we belong on the floor. I think the girls proved that to themselves early by sticking with it and having a close score at the end of the first quarter.”

The Miners, who trailed 31-21 at the half, struggled from the free throw line in the first half, shooting a paltry 45 percent (5 of 11), while committing seven turnovers.

Edison’s full-court defensive pressure wreaked havoc and forced the Miners into 12 turnovers.

Negaunee fell behind by as many as 20 points in the third quarter.

Senior Ella Mason, the West PAC Player of the Year and school’s all-time scoring leader, tried to keep the Miners in the game.

She finished with a game-high 25 points, shooting 9 of 18 from the field including 5 of 10 from behind the 3-point arc.

“She was highly efficient today and I don’t know what else we could have done to stop her,” Edison coach Monique Brown said. “We made it tough for her to get the ball and she just made tough shots. She’s awesome.”

Mason was proud of the Miners’ ability to advance this far.

“Obviously our program has never been here before, so I’m proud that we were able to set the bar higher and show the younger girls coming up that this is a possibility,” she said. “That we belong here, and they are going to get back here one day.”

Mason was the only Miner scoring in double figures as Callie Rajala had six points and two rebounds.

O’Donnell appreciated the support of the community, despite the loss.

“I was a little surprised when I looked up before tipoff and saw the size of our crowd,” he said. “That was pretty cool.”

Dean Holzwarth writes for MHSAA.com during the group’s tournament seasons.