The victory sent the Miners (24-1) to Petoskey to face Ludington (19-7) in Wednesday’s championship game. The Northmen finished 13-11.

Negaunee, which hit just 6 of 31 field goals in the first half, trailed 18-16 at the intermission.

“Our offensive rhythm wasn’t there,” Miners head coach Mike O’Donnell said. “We executed much better in the second half. We had a couple defensive breakdowns and they hit us inside in the first half. We didn’t have that in the second half. I think our pressure got to them a little.”

Petoskey took a 23-18 lead early in the third quarter on a 20-foot jump shot from the left wing by sophomore Haidyn Wegmann.

Negaunee’s Aubrey Johnson surveys the floor looking for what to do next on offense for the Miners during a high school girls basketball game played against Ishpeming at the Hematites’ gym on Feb. 9. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

The Miners answered with a 7-0 run, taking a 25-23 lead on senior guard and Michigan Tech recruit Ella Mason’s putback nearly midway through the third.

“We just played with more intensity in the second half,” the new-as-of-last-week, all-time Negaunee scorer said. “We trusted in the process and did what we’ve done all year. Obviously, everyone wants to see the ball go through the hole, but I’m never going to lose confidence in my shot, even if I miss 20 in a row.

“I don’t think they expected that (tight man-to-man defense). Our defense is always our rock. Coach O’Donnell is the best. We trust him.”

The Northmen tied the contest 27-27 on a 15-foot shot by Wegmann late in the third.

Negaunee responded with 14 unanswered points, gaining a 41-27 advantage on a pair of free throws by Mason with 65 seconds left in the contest.

Petoskey took an early 6-0 lead on a layup by junior Braylin Adair and led 8-5 after the opening frame.

The Northmen extended their lead to 12-7 on Adair’s six-foot jumper with 5:10 left in the second.

Negaunee rallied to tie the score 16-16 on a jumper from top of the key by senior forward Grace Nardi.

“Grace’s jumper from top of the key was huge,” O’Donnell said. “I thought that was a momentum changer. The lid was on the rim in the first half, then we made just enough shots in the second half.

“They were throwing the ball over the top of our defense in the first half, then we went with a little taller lineup in the second.”

Petoskey junior Caitlyn Matelski sank a left-handed layup two seconds prior to the intermission, enabling the Northmen to take their two-point lead into the halftime locker room.

Mason finished with 23 points while Aubrey Johnson had eight for the Miners, who committed nine turnovers. The Northmen had 21 turnovers.

The Northmen, who were outscored 11-2 in the fourth quarter, were led by Adair’s 12 points as Wegmann had nine.