MANISTIQUE – Manistique pulled even with Westwood in the Mid-Peninsula Conference with a 54-46 victory over the Patriots in high school basketball action on Wednesday night.

The Emeralds, who like Westwood are 2-7 in the M-PC, outscored the visitors 8-0 in the final few minutes of the first half to take a slim 28-27 lead at the break.

Manistique (6-8 overall) kept the momentum going in the third quarter, outscoring Westwood (5-8) 11-5 in the period to go up 39-32 heading into the fourth.

The Emeralds helped insure the victory at the free throw line, finishing with a 17-of-21 performance there, an 81 percent success rate.

Junior Jake Arnold paced the Emeralds with 19 points, while junior teammate Darien Nichols added 12.

WHS senior Luke Gray led all scorers with 22 points and senior Connor Hanlon had 11 as just four Patriots scored. Senior Ryan Stanaway added a team-high six rebounds to go with nine points.

Westwood, which won the JV game 55-30, plays its third game in three nights today at Norway, while Manistique remains home to play Ishpeming on Friday.