Before playing a high school boys basketball game at home against Manistique on Friday, Ishpeming High School recognized Caden Luoma, right, for surpassing 1,000 career points in January and approaching the Hematites’ all-time boys basketball scoring record. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming Hematites boys basketball team delivered a big win for the home crowd Friday on Valentine’s Day, taking control in the second half and never looking back as it rolled past Manistique, 69-30.

With a relentless defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack, Ishpeming won its second straight game and is nearing the .500 mark again at 9-10. Manistique fell to 4-17 with its fourth consecutive setback.

Before the game, the Hematites’ Caden Luoma was recognized for approaching the school’s all-time scoring record while also being honored for surpassing 1,000 career points in January.

The home crowd gave him a standing ovation, and he wasted no time showing on the court why he was deserving of the praise, leading Ishpeming with 18 points.

“I wasn’t too pleased in the first half, effort and energy-wise,” Hematites head coach Paige Yoho said. “But the last 16 minutes proved the type of team that we are — the grittiness, that effort.

“So, I was proud of the second-half performance more so than the first.”

Emeralds head coach Trevor Demers pointed to turnovers as the key issue in the loss.

“They beat us up early in the game with the press (defense),” Demers said. “I thought we handled it well in the first half, and then it caught up to us in the second. That was the difference.”

“We have a lot of things left to accomplish still,” Yoho said. “Individual goals, team goals and the ultimate goal to get our names up on one of those banners, and it’s going to take a lot for that to happen, but these guys, they know that.”

Ishpeming set the pace from the opening tip as Levi Nicholls drilled a 3-pointer on the game’s opening possession. Ethan Corp added a free throw to push the lead to 4-0. The Emeralds responded with an and-one play from Mack Pugh to cut their deficit to 4-3.

From there, the Hematites took over. Kenny Ambuehl knocked down a deep 3, and Grady Gauthier, who finished with 15 points, floated in a tough shot to extend the home team’s lead to 9-3.

Manistique struggled to find an offensive rhythm early, while Ishpeming continued to build momentum. Corp nailed a corner 3, followed by another from Gauthier. By the end of the first quarter, Ishpeming held a comfortable 20-10 advantage.

The second quarter began just as the first ended, with the Hematites controlling the tempo. Luoma powered his way to the basket for a tough layup through contact and followed it up with another smooth finish inside. Manistique’s Alex Bonneau fought to keep the Emeralds in the game with a couple of buckets, finishing with a team-high nine points, but Ishpeming’s defense continued to be suffocating.

With three minutes left in the first half, Ishpeming led 25-14 and continued to extend its advantage. Nicholls added a free throw, while John Wheeler finished inside for two more. Manistique managed to hit a late 3-pointer, but the Hematites entered halftime firmly in control with a 30-19 lead.

Ishpeming came out of the locker room to start the second half determined to put the game out of reach. Corp hit two free throws, and Luoma knocked down a midrange jumper to spark the Hematites.

Manistique’s Wesley Segerstrom answered with a layup, finishing with four points, but Ishpeming countered quickly. Gauthier caught fire from beyond the arc, drilling back-to-back 3-pointers. Luoma then added another deep shot, followed by Brody Radcliffe converting an and-one play to extend the Hematites’ lead to 54-24. Radcliffe finished with seven points.

The Emeralds struggled to get quality looks, and Ishpeming took full advantage. By the end of the third, Ishpeming built a commanding 58-24 edge.

The Hematites left no doubt in the final quarter, as Ambuehl opened with a steal and easy layup. Bonneau and Blake Mason managed to get a few late buckets for Manistique, but the deficit was far too great. A final 3-pointer from Syler Fox put the finishing touches on Ishpeming’s dominant performance.

The Hematites have two more games this week to close out the regular season, hosting Calumet at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, then traveling west to Ironwood at 6 p.m. EST Thursday.

The MHSAA lists Ishpeming’s opening Division 3 district tournament game at home against Jeffers at 6 p.m. next Monday.

Manistique has just one more regular-season game, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bark River-Harris, then opens Division 3 district play with a game at Menominee at 7 p.m. EST next Monday.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.