Ishpeming, MI – December 3rd, 2018 – The Ishpeming Hematite girls basketball team welcomed the Kingsford Flivers to Ishpeming after a fierce winter storm coated the area in ice and snow. However, the action was sure to be hot for the first game of the season for the Hematites.
The Kingsford Flivers took control of the ball after winning the tip-off, but the Ishpeming Hematites quickly stopped their opening drive. Ishpeming tied the score at 2-2 at 1:30 into the first quarter, but they were having a hard time with the Flivers’ defense. The girls worked hard to maintain a lead, and with three minutes left, they held with a score of 7-6. Both teams were committing fouls left and right, with Madison Pruett being pulled out of the game with three early fouls. As the quarter neared the close, Ishpeming clung to their lead. The game was tied at 13-13 after Kingsford took advantage of the Hematites’ fouls, draining a free throw after making a hard charge to the basket.
First Quarter Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 13
Kingsford Flivers: 15
After trading the lead back and forth in the first, the Ishpeming Hematites were looking at a hard fight due to their small roster and the amount of fouls committed early in the game. The Flivers took advantage of the situation and went on an 11-0 scoring run through much of the quarter before Ishpeming was finally able to score their first points of the quarter with just a bit left in the first half.
First Half Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 16
Kingsford Flivers: 34
The game was looking tough for the Ishpeming Hematite girls as they trailed the Kingsford Flivers by 18 points at the start of the second half of play. Overcoming much of their second quarter jitters, Ishpeming was able to keep the score gap under 14 for much of the third. With just under a minute left, the Hematites trailed again by 14 points, 48-14, but a three pointer from Ishpeming closed that gap to 48-37.
Third Quarter Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 37
Kingsford Flivers: 48
Coming down to the wire, neither team was assured the victory as the final quarter began. The Ishpeming Hematites were doing everything in their power to make any kind of basket, but Kingsford used their foul advantage to keep the pressure up on Ishpeming. As the Flivers entered time-burning mode, the Hematites still trailed by just 13 points. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Ishpeming was still trailing by 11 points, despite fighting hard all game long.
Final Game Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 45
Kingsford Flivers: 56
Listen In! – The Ishpeming Hematite girls basketball team is defeated by the Kingsford Flivers 56-45 on 98.3 WRUP.mp3