MARQUETTE — Marquette’s 33-29 victory over Kingsford at home last Monday night was a great way to celebrate Senior Night.

The Sentinels, who finished the regular season with a 52-48 loss at Baraga on Thursday, enter the MHSAA Division 1 district tournament with a 6-14 record, not having been able to play two of their final four games due to winter weather.

Last week’s Marquette opponents, the Flivvers and Vikings, were ranked last week in the top five in the Upper Peninsula from weekly polls conducted by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Kingsford was No. 4 in Divisions 1-3, while Baraga was also No. 4, but in Division 4.

In the win over Kingsford, MSHS head coach Ben Smith cited “a spirited team effort” to opening up a 20-10 lead in the second quarter before holding on for the Great Northern Conference victory.

Kingsford has finished its regular season at 15-5, while Baraga is 19-3.

The Sentinels open MHSAA Division 1 district tournament play at home at 6 p.m. Wednesday to face the winner of tonight’s opening-round game between Alpena (3-18) and Traverse City West (6-12).

The other side of the bracket includes Gaylord (11-9) and TC Central (8-8), who face each other on Wednesday.

The district championship has been set for 6 p.m. Friday and could be played in Marquette if the Sentinels win Wednesday, though with Gaylord listed as district host, the Blue Devils would likely get to host if they advance.

Kingsford 48, Westwood 47

On Thursday at the Patriots’ gym, the home team made a big comeback in the fourth quarter only to see it fall short by a single point.

Westwood (6-14) trailed 15-9 after one quarter, 23-18 at halftime and 35-28 following the third quarter, but really got back into it in the final eight minutes.

Kaylin Doney led a balanced Patriots scoring attack with 11 points, while Lyn Magnuson and Morgan Schneider added nine points apiece and Eliisa Doney had seven. Nine players in all scored for WHS.

Aubrie Moore and Cassie Olson paced the Flivvers (15-5) with 16 points each.

Westwood opens MHSAA Division 3 district tournament play at home at 6 p.m. Wednesday, facing Jeffers (7-13).

The winner of that game will play the survivor from the other side of the bracket — Calumet (9-11), West Iron County (6-15) or Ironwood (7-14) — in the district championship game at 6 p.m. Friday.

Looking at the MHSAA website at www.mhsaa.com, it would appear that Westwood won’t get a chance to host the finals as Calumet is the district host with the Patriots and Jeffers listed on the lower half of the bracket, where road teams usually reside for the finals.

Story contents based on an email received from Marquette head coach Ben Smith and a text message from Westwood head coach Christie Makela. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.