Iron Mountain’s Foster Wonders shoots over Kingsford’s Tyler Kopp, left, on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in Iron Mountain, Mich. (Adam Niemi/Iron Mountain Daily News)

IRON MOUNTAIN — It didn’t take long for Iron Mountain to assert its dominance in an 85-56 win over Kingsford on Saturday night.

The Mountaineers (18-0) led 22-10 after the first quarter and set the cruise control for the rest of the night, scoring at least 20 points in each of the next two quarters for a comfortable lead.

“We bounced back pretty good from last night,” Iron Mountain head coach Bucky Johnson said of his team’s win at Hancock on Friday. “Got off to a great start, 22 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second. Off to a good start obviously. Pretty good third quarter. Maintained throughout the game. It was a good victory.”

The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 12 but was postponed by a 9-inch snowfall.

Foster Wonders led Iron Mountain with 26 points, including four 3-pointers. Marcus Johnson had 22 points and 11 assists.

Tyler Beauchamp led Kingsford with 20 points, while Andrew Mann added 10.

Part of Iron Mountain’s success on the night was limiting primary scorers Beauchamp and Luke Terrian early. Terrian was held to nothing in the first half and ended the game with eight points. Beauchamp as held to 10 points in the first half.

With Kingsford (9-8) falling behind early, Olkkonen said the focus changed from trying to keep up with Iron Mountain to maintaining a competitive mindset and improving execution as the tournament nears.

“It’s hard. It really is because you’ve gotta pick your poison,” Olkkonen said about defending Iron Mountain’s starting five. “Their talent level is above ours, it really is. We understand that. Athletically, they are definitely athletic in the sense of playing at the rim level. Jaden and Charlie (Gerhard) and Tony (Feira), they’re taller than all of our five starters and it makes it difficult. Our focus especially with our team we have right now is trying to get better for nine days from now when we play Houghton.”

The Mountaineers settled for 3-pointers at various stretches of the game, ending the night 9 of 23 from long range. Wonders knocked down four, Johnson had three and Owen Caudell had a pair for his six points.

Iron Mountain outrebounded Kingsford 35 to 20. Wonders and Feira led the Mountaineers with eight rebounds apiece.

Olkkonen said Iron Mountain is more than the best team he’s faced all season.

“This is the best Iron Mountain team I’ve seen here in 22 years. They got individual players that are phenomenal,” Olkkonen said. “It’s the synergy they have. They work together. It’s really amazing to see them mesh that well and know where each other are and the selflessness of a lot of the players. It really is a special thing. Overall we lost to a great team. They’re really a great team. They’re one of the top teams in the UP right now, them and Marquette and Gladstone. I’ve played them all and these guys are definitely at the top.”

Coach Johnson said preparing for the rivalry game against Kingsford, despite the Flivvers being down from recent years, is always serious business.

“These kids are pretty focused and they’ve been around basketball a lot,” Johnson said. “They know basketball can be a funny game if they’re not ready night in and night out. That says a lot about their character and their willingness to compete.

“I got a couple guys on this team that really are competitive. They’re focused, the team is focused. Like I said we take it one game at a time. We have our thoughts about why we’re taking it one game at a time and how we want to play and set the tone night in and night out no matter who we’re playing.”

Marcus Johnson’s friendship with Beauchamp exemplifies the modern Iron Mountain-Kingsford rivalry — friendly off the court but fiercely competitive in-game. Although Iron Mountain has beat Kingsford 11 straight games, it hasn’t come without some testy moments. Yet afterwards on Saturday, after squaring off in their final rivalry game, Johnson and Beauchamp posed for pictures.

“They’ve been doing this for three years now against each other. They’ve had some good times and bad times,” Olkkonen said while watching Johnson and Beauchamp pose for photos. “It’s that little rivalry that you have. I think that they’ve both matured a lot in the sense of going out there and understanding the respect. Those guys are best friends growing up. For as much as a rivalry they have, there’s obviously a hatred in certain things but this isn’t. I don’t feel it. The maturity they have, it’s fun to see that picture down there though.”

Iron Mountain JV won 70-68 in overtime. Ricky Brown led the Mountaineers with 24 points. Chris Carollo led Kingsford with 33 points.

Kingsford visits Menominee today. Iron Mountain hosts Ishpeming on Tuesday.

Kingsford 10 8 19 19 — 56

Iron Mountain 22 21 24 18 — 85

KINGSFORD (56): Beauchamp 20, Mann 10, Terrian 8, Normand 6, Rutter 5, Galeazzi 3, Kopp 2, Batti 2. FT: 11-19. F: 10. 3PT: Beauchamp 3, Rutter 1, Mann 1. Rebounds: 20.

IRON MOUNTAIN (85): Wonders 26, Johnson 22, Gerhard 16, Caudell 6, Feira 6, Dumais 5, Vicenzi 2, Basanese 2. FT: 4-5. F: 16. FG: 36-62. 3PT: 9-23 (Wonders 4, Johnson 3, Caudell 2). Rebounds: 35 (Wonders 8, Feira 8). Assists: 22 (Johnson 11). Steals: 7. Turnovers: 14.