Ishpeming, MI – March 2nd, 2018 – The Ishpeming Hematites Girls High School Basketball team won their district championship match against the Westwood Patriots with a final score of 59-52.
Home court advantage is what some may say sealed the deal on this incredibly fast paced, hard played basketball game-and they would be wrong. Earlier in the week the Westwood Patriots defeated the 20-0 Negaunee Miners on the very same Ishpeming court for an unexpected upset to move to the district championship to face off against the Hematites who won their own spot in the finale after defeating the Modeltowners.
The first frame started fast, the Patriots moved into the lead and went 6-0 unanswered against the Hematites until Katie Loman fired in some shots putting the Hematites on the board and on their way. Chloe Sjoholm put up a 3-point shot and Madigan Johns closed the score to one possession at the end for 13-14 Westwood lead at the end of the first.
The second half was exciting, Madison Pruett put up a free throw to tie the game 14-14, then Mariah Austin put up two 3-point shots, but both teams remained tied up when approaching the 90 second mark on the clock, Madigan Johns banked one in to take the lead but the Patriots were close behind closing the Ishpeming lead from 3 to 1 to close the first half, swapping the lead to Ishpeming by a single point opposite of the first.
In the start of the third, Chloe Sjoholm puts in a basket for the early lead, and the Ishpeming Hematites bombarded a couple 3-point shots from Madigan Johns and Chloe Sjoholm taking an impressive lead over the Westwood Patriots and the evenings largest lead for the Hematites with 6 to finish out the third 42-36.
The final quarter was a nail biter, and out of nowhere from wide-open Madison Bertucci came a long 3-point shot nobody expected putting the Hematites lead to 9. Westwood was sinking their free throws with significantly more accuracy and began closing the gap, the Hematites lead went from 8, to 10, to 8, and then was cut down to 5 with minutes left on the clock. Madigan Johns made a couple free throws and brought the Hematites lead by up to 8 a short time after and Ishpeming began to whittle down time on the Patriots to secure the lead and the win, and successfully keep the ball away from Westwood to win the district championship and advance to regional with a final score of 59-52.
Madigan Johns led the Hematites scoring with 20, followed by Mariah Austin with 13. The Ishpeming Hematites girls are back in action for the regional match against West Iron County Wykons in Escanaba on march 5th. Tip-off is at 5:30PM, so join us for the action at 98.3 WRUP and online at wrup.com.