The Sentinels, who previously downed Westwood 57-40 last Thursday, got another big game from Avery Osborne. After putting in 32 points vs. Westwood, she scored 25 in the victory over the Gremlins, who fell to 10-4 and are receiving votes in this week’s Upper Peninsula Divisions 1-3 girls basketball poll conducted by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Marquette (4-9) also got 12 points from Hayley Taylor and nine apiece from Lexi Curran and Addison Kramer, Curran hitting several key free throws down the stretch to insure the victory.

The Sentinels led for almost the entire game, jumping out to an early lead before Houghton battled back in the second quarter to pull within 22-18 at halftime.

Kate Filpus paced the Gremlins with 13 points.

Marquette’s Lexi Curran, right, directs her teammates during a high school girls basketball game played against Houghton at the Barb Crill Gymnasium in Marquette on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Marquette begins a four-game road “trip” at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday at Kingsford, also playing games away from home at Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday and at Negaunee on Friday, Feb. 13.

Newberry 48, St. Ignace 42

Last Thursday at Newberry, the Indians pulled off a rare win over the always strong St. Ignace program as this was just their third win over the Saints in the past three decades. The most recent win came in the 2023-24 season.

Sophomore Gracie Johnson led Newberry, which is now 10-1 after also beating Pickford 51-28 on Monday, with 28 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Another Indians sophomore, Sydney Duflo, added 11 points, three rebounds, three steals and three assists, while junior teammate Natalie Whalen pulled down nine rebounds while making three blocked shots and five assists.

And NHS freshman Becca Rahilly and junior Abby Taylor were credited for their tough defense as Rahilly had four steals and three points while Taylor had two steals.

After playing at Cedarville at 5:45 p.m. today, Newberry has its rematch at St. Ignace (7-5) at 5:45 p.m. Monday.

Gwinn 50, Escanaba 28

On Monday at Escanaba, the Modeltowners are easing back toward the .500 mark at 6-7 with this road victory.

“After a tough week and still trying to get everyone healthy, we started this week off on the right foot,” Gwinn head coach Adam Ely said in an email detailing the result, alluding to frequent illnesses that kept his team shorthanded throughout January.

“We didn’t feel good about our games last week with Ishpeming and Hancock, so I was very proud of the girls for the response they had both in Sunday practice and the game Monday. 

“I loved our defensive effort, even though we put (Escanaba) on the line more than we usually do. To their credit, they made them, too.

“(Gwinn’s) Alayna Soyring and Daena Demars have a special ability to guard the ball.”

GHS had lost five of its previous six, including the losses last week at home to the Hematites and Bulldogs.

The Modeltowners’ Makayla Delmont, who had been out recently, led all scorers with 21 points, hitting three 3-pointers and 4 of 4 free throws.

Demars was next with nine points, seven of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Aubrey Nylander paced the Eskymos (2-12) with 11 points, all coming on a triple and 8 of 9 on free throws.

Gwinn posted a first-quarter shutout, leading 13-0 entering the second quarter, before building it up to 25-7 at halftime.

After playing at home vs. Menominee on Wednesday, the Modeltowners go to Iron Mountain at 7:15 p.m. EST Friday.

Westwood 43, Iron Mountain 29

On Tuesday at Iron Mountain, the Patriots improved to 4-11 by jumping out early and protecting a single-digit lead until it could be expanded in the final quarter.

Kaylin Doney led a balanced Westwood attack with 11 points as teammate Makenna Olson added 10 and Emerson Williams nine as seven Patriots scored.

Khloe Jayne paced IM (2-12) with 11 points.

WHS built a 13-7 lead after one quarter, improving it to 19-10 at halftime and still ahead 34-26 entering the fourth.

Westwood plays its fifth road game in a row at 7:15 p.m. Friday at Manistique. The Patriots also play at Hancock on Tuesday before returning home for three games in a row at their own gym.

Baraga 41, Westwood 27

On Monday at Baraga, the Patriots didn’t have as much luck against one of the Upper Peninsula’s top teams. The Vikings improved to 12-2 and are ranked No. 4 in this week’s UPSSA Division 4 rankings.

Baraga jumped out to a 16-5 lead after the opening period, bumping it to 23-10 by halftime before Westwood made some inroads in the third quarter, getting back to within 28-20 entering the fourth period.

The Pats had another balanced attack, this time Eliisa Doney scoring eight points and Lyn Magnuson seven as again seven Westwood players scored despite the low final team total.

The Vikings’ Kara Roberts led all scorers with 20 points, while Mya Hendrickson put up 11.

Baraga plays a makeup game at home against Ontonagon at 6 p.m. today, then has a quick turnaround with another home game vs. Jeffers at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Story contents based on emails received from Marquette girls basketball representative Steffani Gerard, Gwinn coach Adam Ely, and Newberry coach Sarah Johnson, along with texts from Westwood coach Christie Makela. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.