The Ishpeming Hematites have enjoyed a lot of success in the sporting world in the past few years. It isn’t surprising when you have such good coaching for just about every team involved with the blue & white. The success is such that a week where both teams went 1-1, it is considered a surprise, regardless of who they played. The boys faced off against two very good teams and continued to suffer from some early season growing pains that most teams have already shaken off. It showed over the past two weeks that the legs just aren’t in mid-season form quite yet especially when the fourth quarter comes around. This is to be expected though, when you don’t start your season until December 30th. A 4-2 start against good teams who have more games under their belt is nothing short of impressive. The only two losses they have are on the road against a Negaunee team that needed a game-winning three pointer to win 55-57 and another road loss in a hostile Marquette environment against the undefeated Redmen. The deeper into the season that seniors Alex Briones and Tyrus Millimaki get, the more dangerous they’re going to be. That fact could already be showing, as they managed to play a very competitive fourth quarter en route to a 61-59 victory against a good Gwinn Modeltowner team. Another reason that the Hematite boys will be in contention for an MPC crown at the end of the season is their remaining schedule. While the teams they play will be difficult, nine of their remaining fourteen games are at home, including a seven game home stand to end the year.
The girls, are also in a similar boat. Since losing their first game of the season to Superior Central they have gone 7-1, their only loss coming against L’Anse 56-58 last Monday. They have a dangerous offense that has scored 50+ points in seven of their nine games, including three 60+ point performances. Their team defense is nothing to turn your nose up at either, as they’ve held teams under 50 points in five games as well.
Either way you look at it, the Ishpeming Hematites and their fans have good teams everywhere you turn and should take some time to enjoy it. Both teams are strong contenders to win the MPC this year, and the girls are probably the odds-on favorite to do so. Both teams will have to fight through weeks like this, where they’ll play against some tough competition. The schedule is as follows:
Boys Basketball
Tuesday Ishpeming Hematites vs. Gladstone Braves — 7:45pm
Wednesday Ishpeming Hematites @ Gwinn Modeltowners — 7:45pm
Friday Ishpeming Hematites @ Kingsford Flivers — 8:00pm
Girls Basketball
Monday Ishpeming Hematites vs. Negaunee Miners — 7:45pm
Thursday Ishpeming Hematites @ Westwood Patriots — 7:30pm
Be sure to tune into 98.3WRUP for all of your Ishpeming Hematites Basketball action! Join Mike Plourde & Bob Nadeau for all of your pre-, mid-, and post-game action, and as always….GO HEMATITES!
-C. L. Johnson