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Prep Girls Basketball Roundup: Patriots now 4-0; Emeralds victorious

By Journal Sports Staff

IRON RIVER — The Westwood High School girls varsity basketball team had three double-digit scorers on Tuesday night, sending the Patriots past West Iron County 49-34 behind a 15-point performance from junior guard Tessa Leece, 13 points from junior forward Karlie Patron and 12 points from junior guard Madelyn Koski.

Westwood is now 4-0 on the season, its first 4-0 start in 11 years.

Patriots head coach Kurt Corcoran said his team started with the wrong type of energy, but picked up the pace as the game went on.

“In the first quarter everybody had energy, but it wasn’t focused energy,” he said. “We were going a million miles an hour. These were two highly-touted preseason teams with something to prove. We settled down after the first and held them to single digit quarters after that. We made them fight for everything they got.

“We played swarming defense which led to some fast-break points and I thought that was one of the main differences.”

Cocoran also credited Patron for her performance, which included eight rebounds to complement her 13 points.

“Karlie sort of had a breakout game with those 13 points,” he said. “Every game we have someone new stepping up out there and that’s good to see.”

The teams were tied 13-13 after one quarter before Westwood went on a 17-6 run in the second to go up 30-19 at halftime.

The Patriots never looked back, outscoring the Wykons 10-6 in the third and keeping pace in the fourth to pull away to the victory.

Westwood shot 16 of 44 from the field and 14 of 20 from the free throw line. West Iron County was 7 of 12 at the charity stripe, field goal stats for the Wykons weren’t available.

Westwood travels to Manistique on Thursday.

Manistique 37, Engadine 29

At Engadine, Emilee McDaniel scored 10 points and the Manistique girls’ basketball team got its first win of the season, knocking off Engadine 37-29 here Tuesday. The Emeralds (1-2) used a surge in the second quarter to get the win.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow start,” Emeralds’ coach Dave Winkel said. “Our ball movement in second quarter was really good and we were able to find people for the open shot.”

Winkel said it would have been better if his team played the same way in the second half, but was happy to get that first win.

“Our execution wasn’t as good in the third quarter,” he said. “We came out a little flat and let them hang around.

“But it’s great to finally get in the win column, it kind of feels like a relief. Getting that first win always seems to be the hardest one. Hopefully we can build a little bit of confidence off of it and build on it moving forward.”

Emma Butkovich led Engadine with 10 points.

The Emeralds, who host Westwood Thursday, won the jayvee game in a 51-49 thriller.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Spitza and the Escanaba Daily Press. Email Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.

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