Houghton MI – 03/16/2021 – The Ishpeming Hematites travel to Houghton to face the Gremlins here on WRUP 98.3
The game started with hard fought back and forth scoring from both teams. Ishpeming seemed to loose their edge near the end of the quarter. The Gremlins finished the quarter on a six point run putting them in the lead with a score of 15-8. Ishpeming had several turnovers made by sloppy passing, but made up for it with almost as many stolen passes.
The second quarter had the Hematites coming out strong to make the first few shots only to allow the Gremlins to once again make a mid quarter run of nine points. The gremlins finished out the half with a six point lead leaving the score board at 25-19. Bryce Pugh led the gremlins in scoring with 12 and rebounds with 9 of their 24. The stats showed pretty even across the Hematite starters.
Coming into the third quarter behind by six the Hematites allowed that lead to extend to 31-19 before going on their own 9 point run. The Gremlins managed to hold onto their six point lead by the end of the quarter leaving the score at 39-33.
The fourth quarter had both teams fighting hard, there were a lot of whistles. Travels, contact fouls, and official time outs for mask issues slowed the pace down. Hematites managed to take advantage of the slowed down play. Ishpeming managed to make it a one point game with one minute left on the clock making the game one of the most exciting so far this season for the team. With 14 seconds on the clock the score is 54-51 and the Hematites had the ball to inbound and after a timeout Connor Gauthier managed to make a buzzer beating three pointer to put the game into overtime!
Ishpeming held their first lead since two minutes into the game two minutes into overtime the lead was short lived as the rest of overtime seemed to be fought for from the free throw line with the first basket from the field being an and one play from Parker Gauthier who made his shot with 30 seconds on the clock tying the game at 58 all! With 4.3 seconds left Hematites had the inbound pass that could win them this game with a fast score, all they needed is one, they missed the buzzer beater this time and on to second overtime.
Maki sunk a three pointer to give the Hematites the lead once again 61-60 to open the period. Hematites managed to answer every Gremlins score with a basket of their own. With the game at 65-64 and 17 seconds left this time the Gremlins got the chance to inbound resulting in a charge and a turnover, giving the Hematites the ball with ten seconds to go allowing them to call a timeout with seven seconds left. Parker Gauthier Managed to make his first of two free throws with 5 seconds left before Preston Gauthier managed to get the rebound and went back to the foul line missing both but allowing the clock to run out.
FINAL: Ishpeming Hematites 66, Houghton Gremlins 64 In Double Overtime
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