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Boys basketball: Wykons hold off Trojans, 53-48

West Iron County's Nathan Thomson and Forest Park's Riley Hendrickson battle for the ball on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, in Iron River, Mich. (Adam Niemi/Iron Mountain Daily News)

IRON RIVER — West Iron County outlasted Forest Park 53-48 in a non-conference game Monday.

The Trojans (2-2) never found a consistent inside game to compliment the long-range shooting, making 10 3-pointers on the night.

Part of Forest Park’s lack of rhythm inside was West Iron’s physicality.

The Wykons (2-1) physically controlled the game, getting to loose balls and rebounds down the stretch to thwart a late Trojans’ rally. West Iron’s presence down low drew fouls from Forest Park, which it converted to free throws in maintaining a five-point lead through the end.

But a 23-point second quarter from Forest Park made it a tie shortly before halftime. The Trojans made six triples in the second including three from Gavin Johnson.

A long range buzzer-beater from Caden Pellizzer gave the Wykons a 33-30 halftime lead.

“CP Swag with the bank shot. Sometimes that helps,” West Iron County head coach Dan Schive said. “That was kind of nice momentum going in because they had crawled in. They put 23 on us in the second quarter, which of course was my fault. To go in with a lead, that was beneficial.

“I stayed in the zone too long in the second quarter. I should’ve come out of it,” Schive added. “With seven kids, I just got a little apprehensive about them getting tired at the end of the game. I should’ve trusted their conditioning and let it go. Otherwise I thought we played tougher, which is what we’re trying to get to. I thought we rebounded the ball tonight very well.”

Caden Pellizzer’s 19 points led the Wykons. Nathan Thomson added 11 including late free throws to hold a dwindling late lead.

Forest Park’s hot shooting in the first half gave way to a quiet third quarter as the Trojans went scoreless until a free throw with three minutes left.

A three-point deficit at the half turned into an eight-point hole going into the fourth.

“That third quarter was tough for us and the kids. Very pleased with our kids battling and fought back,” Forest Park head coach Chris Nocerini said. “They hit some big shots. Our sophomore Gavin Johnson kept us in the game. I thought Max Nylund just hung on against Caleb Pellizzer. Caden did a good job against us. He’s a good ballplayer. Well polished and plays the game hard.”

The Wykons led by as much as 12 in the second half before the Trojans made a final push in the final minutes of the fourth. Forest Park never got within five, but after a 12-point lead early on in the quarter, Schive said he noticed his team got a little wide-eyed.

“I think the boys puckered up a little bit there,” Schive said. “Once we got a timeout and got them to relax a little bit and just do your job. Everybody do your job and we’ll be all right.”

Riley Hendrickson connected on four total 3’s and led Forest Park with 18 points. Johnson had 12 points and Nylund added 10.

The Trojans went to the bench as fouls began to pile. Tommy Showers picked up his third foul with a few minutes left in the first half. Keall Emmers was whistled for his third foul in the final minute of the third and was substituted. He got his fourth foul halfway through the fourth.

“It takes you a little bit out of your game,” Nocerini said of the fouls. “But I have faith in our bench and they’re good kids. They work just as hard as the guys that start the game. Tonight they kept us around. We’re still trying to figure our rotation and what our kids are good at. All I know is we’re better than where we started the first week and as a coach that’s what you hope for.”

West Iron JV won.

West Iron County visits L’Anse on Thursday while Forest Park visits Rapid River.

Forest Park 7 23 6 12 — 48

West Iron 12 21 11 9 — 53

FOREST PARK (48): Hendrickson 18, Johnson 12, Nylund 10, Emmers 3, Peltoma 3, Showers 2. FT: 6-9. F: 15. 3PT: 10 (Hendrickson 4, Johnson 4, Emmers 1, Nylund 1).

WEST IRON COUNTY (53): Pellizzer 19, Thomson 11, Williams 11, Nelson 10, Dobson 2. FT: 13-16. F: 11. 3PT: 6 (Pellizzer 3, Williams 2, Thomson 1).

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