Kingsford’s Nick Nora (0) puts up a shot as Negaunee’s Eli Luokkala, left, Gerald Johnson (22) and Jackson Gladwell (3) defend in a Division 2 MHSAA District semifinal Thursday at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee. (Ryan Stieg photo)

NEGAUNEE — When it gets to tournament time, a basketball team needs to handle pressure well if it wants to survive and the Negaunee basketball team did that on Thursday night.

The Miners overcame Kingsford’s full-court press and got some key points from Eli Luokkala and Gerald Johnson to eliminate the Flivvers with a 56-48 win. Luokkala finished with 20 points, while Johnson had 17.

“We thought we had a matchup there that we liked and early in the game, Eli played really well and we were able to get him the ball,” Negaunee head coach Dan Waterman said. “And then we knew at some point, they were gonna come at us with pressure because they want to play fast and we want to play slow. And it rattled us a little bit in the first half and it rattled us a little bit in the second half, but ultimately, we were able to keep our composure. The kids did a nice job. It’s not easy. They’re very athletic, they’re well-coached. When you’re fighting for your season, there’s just a little bit of extra juice there. I thought our kids did a nice job.”

Kingsford played well on both ends and got a solid night from Brody Kopp, who finished with 14 points. However, the Flivvers’ shots just weren’t falling and head coach Dan Olkkonen said that’s what the game came down to.

“The worst part was we couldn’t score,” he said. “I thought our pressure was extremely good, especially in the third and fourth quarter. We were down nine at the half and for us to have 19 at halftime, that’s a tough thing to come back (from) if we can’t score. For some reason, we could not finish inside and that’s just how it goes. It happens sometimes. It’s not for a lack of effort, or how the kids get prepared. I appreciate everything that they’ve done. They’re a good group of kids.”

The teams traded baskets through the first quarter with a Nick Nora layup putting the Flivvers up 12-11, but Negaunee’s Will Luke answered with a bucket just before the buzzer to give the Miners a 1-point lead going into the second.

In the opening minute of the second, Kopp made a layup after a steal to put the Flivvers on top, but that was the last time Kingsford held the lead. Back-to-back treys from Gerald Johnson gave the advantage back to the Miners. Kingsford cut it to two at 21-19, but Negaunee held a 28-19 lead at the half.

A layup from Luokkala in the third quarter pushed the Miners’ advantage to 10 at 32-22, but Kingsford wouldn’t quit as it whittled its deficit down to four three times in the quarter, the last time due to two free throws from Michael Meneguzzo. Negaunee was up 38-32 going into the fourth.

Kingsford continued to keep it close with a layup from Cole Bracket keeping the Flivvers within striking distance at 42-38. But the Miners fought back with buckets from Luokkala and Johnson, and then hit their free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

Negaunee will play Escanaba in the district final at 1 p.m. Eastern time Saturday and Waterman knows his squad has a tough task ahead of it.

“The pressure’s all on Escanaba,” Waterman said. “They’ve got a bunch of seniors. They’re big, they’re long, they’re athletic. They beat us by 25 earlier in the year. We’re gonna go and prepare tomorrow and we’re gonna play our butts off on Saturday. That’s the only thing I can promise.”

Kingsford 12 7 13 16 — 48

Negaunee 13 15 10 18 — 56

Summary (field goals, free throws, total points)

KINGSFORD — Nora 3-0-7; Meneguzzo 1-4-6; Kopp 6-2-14; Bracket 2-3-7; Paupore 2-0-6; Person 3-2-8. Totals 17-11-48.

NEGAUNEE — Sager 2-4-8; Luke 2-4-8; Johnson 6-2-17; Luokkala 7-6-20; Gladwell 1-0-3. Totals 18-16-56.

FT shooting: Kingsford, 11 of 15 (73.3%); Negaunee, 16 of 18 (88.9 %).