Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo Niagara’s Morgan Borchardt (13) charges to the basket despite facing several Wausaukee defenders during Monday’s clash. Borchardt chipped in eight points in the 52-30 win.

MENOMINEE — The featured boys basketball game in the Upper Peninsula on Monday night was played in Menominee, where the UPSSA Division 1-3 top-ranked Maroons hosted No. 3 Kingsford.

Unfortunately for the Flivvers, Menominee put the locks on Kingsford early and the boys varsity basketball game was not competitive.

The Maroons (10-1) clamped down on Kingsford, holding the Flivvers (7-2) to just 12 points in the first half to take a 19-point lead into the break.

“We didn’t have a good first half against their high-pressure half-court ‘D,'” Kingsford coach Dan Olkkonen said. “We had too many turnovers and missed a lot of shots around the basket.

“Their speed up the floor on offense is impressive. We gave up too many easy layups. We got better handling ourselves in second half but never really got ourselves back in it.”

Cooper Conway, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior, scored a game-best 20 points for the Maroons, whose only loss of the season was a 63-56 road setback to Milwaukee Tech in mid-December.

Brody Kopp paced the Flivvers with seven, while reserves — junior Isaac Olson and freshman Gavin Grondin — added six points each.

The loss broke Kingsford’s six-game winning streak.

Knights bounce back with win

NORWAY — The Norway boys varsity basketball team brushed off a loss to Florence in its previous game to upend visiting Bark River-Harris 62-46 on Monday night.

Michael Peterson came back from a two-game absence to score a game-high 24 points to lead the Knights (7-3).

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Peterson and Nolan Amundson tallied six points each, while Alex Ortman produced eight in the opening quarter as Norway exploded for a 24-8 lead.

“We were aggressive in the first quarter and attacked the basket,” Norway coach Jeff Gallino. “Mike Peterson had a nice game for us offensively.”

The Broncos (2-7) got going offensively in the second quarter with 16 points, but the Knights stayed in front by 13 at intermission.

“We are looking to improve in the half court defensively,” Gallino said. “We gave up some easy baskets tonight at times.”

But not enough to be worrisome. Norway maintained its lead in the second half by outscoring Bark River-Harris 25-22.

Ortman finished with 13 points and Drew Anderson added 10 for the Knights.

Wykons’ offense still struggling

ISHPEMING — In a season during which the West Iron County boys varsity basketball team has struggled mightily on offense, the Wykons scored a season-low on Monday night when they lost to Westwood 68-11 in a West Pac Conference game at Westwood High School.

West Iron (0-9) managed just four points in the first half and six through three quarters against the fifth-ranked Patriots.

Meanwhile, Westwood scored 21 in the first, 23 in the second and 20 more in the third to lead 64-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

Standout guard Zach Carlson led the way for the Patriots with 32 points.

Daniel James topped West Iron with four.

Niagara rolls over Rangers

NIAGARA, Wis. — The Niagara girls varsity basketball team jumped on visiting Wausaukee in the first half, taking a 27-12 en route to a 52-30 M&O Conference victory on Monday night.

The Lady Badgers (10-6) offered a balanced attack, with Josie Rock leading the way with 14 points. Bailey Pearson and Mallory Sanicki chipped in with nine each and Morgan Borchardt added eight.

Niagara shot well from the foul line as well, hitting 14 of 19 in the night. That was not the case for Wausaukee, which connected on only 8 of 20.

The Rangers had only three scorers in the game, led by Sparrow Luccarini’s 15.

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 247, or at jderoche@ ironmountaindailynews.com.