Justin Nelson double-double leads WIC boys

STAMBAUGH — West Iron County junior center Justin Nelson recorded a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds as the Wykons downed Houghton 53-42 in West PAC boys basketball Monday.

Peyton Williams added 10 points for West Iron, which won despite a game high 26 points with four trifectas from Houghton’s Brad Simonsen.

“We started the game with a 10 or 12 point run,” said WIC head coach Dan Schive. “The Nelsons scored all 18 of our first quarter points, Justin with 12 of them and Brayden the other six.”

Noting that both teams played good defense throughout most of the game, Schive also said the Gremlins did not attempt a free throw.

“It was a very well played basketball game on both ends of the floor, by both teams,” Schive said.

The Wykons (5-2, 2-2) host county rival Forest Park on Thursday, before having three road games on their schedule next week.

“My kids are on their way to understanding how they need to play as a team,” Schive said.

Houghton 6 9 10 17 — 42

West Iron 18 13 5 17 — 53

HOUGHTON: Simonsen 26, Salgado 9, Primeau 5, Jurva 2. FT: None F: 16 3-point FG: Salgado, Simonsen (4), Primeau. Fouled Out: none

WEST IRON COUNTY: Justin Nelson 20, Williams 10, B. Nelson 8, Ballinger 8, Thomson 5, Dobson 2. FT: 9-13. F: 8. 3-point FG: Thomson, J. Nelson (2), Ballinger. Rebounds: 30 (J. Nelson 16). Fouled Out: None

Emily Nelson directs Wykon girls by Ishpeming

ISHPEMING — In a low scoring defensive girls basketball game, West Iron County defeated Ishpeming 36-26 Monday night in West PAC action.

Emily Nelson, a senior center, led all scorers with 13 points for the Wykons, who led 22-13 at the half. They improved to 7-3 on the season with the victory.

“Emily Nelson’s skill set is amazing. We threw two and three people at her and she managed to still make the right plays,” said Ishpeming head coach Ryan Reichel. “Michigan Tech got a great recruit in her. Defensively she forced us to shoot a few more outside shots and when you are not hitting them, it really helps their team.”

The Hematites, without a player in double figures in scoring, were led by Rylee Harris with nine points.

“We played great team defense the whole night, with every girl on the team contributing on that end of the court,” WIC head coach Eric Shamion said. “We are still struggling to find some chemistry on offense, and we were lucky to win the game only scoring 36 points.”

West Iron heads to Green Bay tonight, facing Southwest High School in a non-conference matchup. On Friday, they return home to face West PAC foe Houghton.

West Iron 9 12 7 8 — 36

Ishpeming 6 7 9 4 — 26

ISHPEMING: Poirier 6, Harris 9, Koski 8, Corp 1, Loman 2. FT 1-5.

WEST IRON: Malmquist 9, Nelson 13, Dahl 2, Shamion 2, T. Bociek 5, Mazurek 5. FT: 11-17.