Hematite Invite set for spring

ISHPEMING — The inaugural Hematite Invitational Tournament is set to be held this spring.

The three-week, double-elimination basketball tournament will be begin the weekend of March 29-31 with three divisions and a maximum of eight teams per division.

The next set of divisions will have their tournaments April 5-7 also with a maximum eight teams per division. Class A teams are allowed three NCAA Division II players or higher per roster and have to have appeared in a game to be considered.

Class B teams can only have two D-2 players or higher, also having to appear in a game, and there will also be a 40-and-older division.

The final weekend is reserved for women’s teams and runs April 12-14.

Class A squads will be allowed two D-2 players or higher, again having to appear in a game, and Class B teams allowed two D-3 players or higher. The Class C bracket is for former high school players looking to play again.

The cost is $175 per team and teams can only play in one division, except that teams may double up to play in the 40-and-older.

For more information, call Ishpeming girls varsity basketball coach Ryan Reichel at 361-7426 or email him at ryanreichel12@gmail.com.

Checks and team rosters can be mailed to Reichel at 319 E. Division St., Ishpeming, MI 49849.

Honey Bear Classic in February

BIG BAY — The annual Honey Bear Classic Ski Event will held along the scenic Big Bay Pathway on the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 9.

This is a family-friendly event that highlights youth and ski events and offers prizes, refreshments and a warming fire. Kids especially can get their photo taken with the Honey Bear.

Timed events will be the Honey Bear 12-kilometer and 24K classic challenges around the Bear Mountain Loop with a $15 donation requested and unique prizes offered.

Youth events will be held on the rolling 7K Hidden Grin Loop and 6K Meditation Loop with a $5 donation requested.

Once all skiers are on the trail, participants are invited to explore the pathway on snowshoes and gather around the trailhead fire for the annual Weenie Roast, refreshments and light snacks.

Funds collected will support grooming and maintenance of the trails.

For those who use the pathway frequently, the NTN Powell Pass is available online at noquetrails.org, which also includes the Saux Head trails.

For more information, call Kristi at 250-3350, look for the Honey Bear Classic or Big Bay Pathway on Facebook or email bigbaypathway@gmail.com.

NMU to announce signing class

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team will present its 2019 signing class by hosting an event at The Delft Bistro on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Wildcats head coach Kyle Nystrom and his assistant coaches will show video highlights and discuss each incoming player who signed a National Letter of Intent to play at NMU this fall. Dinner will be available for purchase as well.

NMU swims intrasquad today

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams hold their last home meet of the season with their annual intrasquad and skins meet this morning.

The meet, only including members of the Wildcats’ teams, is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the PEIF pool and will be available on Meet Mobile. A meet program is available online at http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/swimdive/2018-19/files/Intrasquad.pdf.

The teams are coming off a home sweep of NCAA Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay, the women winning 174-120 and men 164-132.

Today’s event includes honoring a number of seniors. The men will be first with honorees Renars Bundzis, Joshua Cosgrove, Grantas Dapkus, Kyle Flickinger of Brimley, Esteban Gutierrez, Arnoldo Herrera, Ryan Leonard, Benjamin Lindberg, David Miranda, Curran Moffitt, Janne Roovers and Nathan Rotundo, a Marquette Senior High School graduate.

The seniors on the women’s team will be honored at the following break — Becca Arakelian, Carolina Artacho, Emily Bell, Samantha Dickie, Sara Foucault, Regan Kilburn, Mackenzie Mentel, Angela Probstfeld, Savanna Saunders, Dana Stroven and Taylor Susa.

UM’s Harbaugh completes staff

ANN ARBOR (AP) — Jim Harbaugh has completed his coaching staff for his fifth season at Michigan.

He hired defensive line coach Shaun Nua on Thursday, a week after adding offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and defensive assistant Anthony Campanile. Harbaugh says Nua is a rising star in the coaching profession.

Nua was Arizona State’s defensive line coach last season following a six-year run with the same position group at Navy.

He was a defensive end for BYU from 2002-04 and started his coaching career at the school.

Central Michigan hired Michigan receivers coach Jim McElwain to be its coach last month.

Badgers renew contract for Chryst

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin renewed football coach Paul Chryst’s five-year contract through January 2024 on Friday.

Chryst is entering his fifth season with the Badgers, who wrapped up a relatively disappointing season at 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten) with a dominating 35-3 win in the Pinstripe Bowl over Miami.

Chryst is 42-12 at Wisconsin and the Badgers won consecutive Big Ten West titles before falling short this past season.

NBA All-Star draft to air Feb. 7

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA’s All-Star draft will be Feb. 7, and broadcast on TNT.

A pair of captains will select the teams from the pool of players who will be picked as starters and reserves from each conference. The captains will be the leading vote getter in each conference, and through Thursday the NBA says the leaders are Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.