By Journal Sports Staff

NEGAUNEE — Some familiar names are popping up on the basketball court at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium during the second weekend of the two-weekend-long Negaunee Invitational Tournament.

Three now-former Northern Michigan University men’s basketball players led Thrivent Financial to a 93-81 victory over Midway Rentals in a Class B game played Friday night.

GLIAC leading scorer Isaiah Johnson put in 29 points for the winners, while former NMU and Marquettte Senior High School player Larry Burnette added 17 as ex-Wildcat Naba Echols, the No. 2 scorer in the GLIAC in the season just ended, contributed 16 points.

Brendan Bauer scored 26 to pace Midway as teammate Colin Lee had 21.

In another “B” game on Friday, McNeil Oilers nipped Team Uren 65-64. Kurt Lehman scored 18 and Jordan LaPlant 15 for the victors.

Ex-Superior Central star Jordan Chartier scored 16 for Team Uren as his former Michigan Tech teammate Dillon Gordon had 14.

In Class C, George Butvilas scored 27 points and teammate Jacob Kleiman had 18 to lead Upbeat Sports to a 95-66 win over GE Builders, which got 22 points from ex-Republic-Michigamme player River Shumate.

Classes B and C continue today with games starting at 10 a.m. right through until the final contest commences at 8 p.m.

Sunday action again starts at 10 a.m. with the “C” championship game at 1:45 p.m. and “B” finale at 3 p.m.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.