BY JERRY DeROCHE

Sports Writer

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain Mountaineers allowed the Calumet Copper Kings back into the game Wednesday night at Mountaineer Gym with a shaky third quarter but recovered in the fourth to win the West Pac Conference boys varsity basketball game 55-37.

Iron Mountain held Calumet to just 11 points in the first half while taking a 13-point lead at intermission. But the Copper Kings (7-5) hit the Mountaineers (9-3) with a 21-point third quarter to pull within 35-32 heading down the stretch.

(Terry Raiche photo) Mountaineer varsity cager Matthew Colavecchi (22) drives by Calumet’s Tyler Black (12) for his only two points in Wednesday night’s 55-37 win at home at Mountaineers Gym. The contest was originally slated for Dec. 10. It was also the first game action of 2022 for Colavecchi, who had been out of action for two months due to an illness.

Oskar Kangas then scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the final eight minutes to help salt away the win.

“Played well for three out of four quarters,” Iron Mountain coach Harvey “Bucky” Johnson said. “Let them back in the game, but got the ball where we needed to in the fourth.”

And that was in Kangas’ hands. While the freshman’s potential was obvious from the season’s first game, he has now begun to post huge numbers across the board. In addition to his point total, the 6-foot-5-inch Kangas grabbed 19 rebounds, blocked five shots, dished out four assists and recorded four steals.

Calumet senior Dryden Nelson helped his team’s comeback in the third with nine of his team-best 19 points. But the Mountaineers held Nelson scoreless in the fourth.

Ian Marttila was Iron Mountain’s other double-digit scorer, finishing with 10.

“(We) did not shoot the ball that great, but credit the kids for playing well in the fourth after a terrible third,” Johnson said.

With the victory, the Mountaineers have now won three straight and five of their last six.

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 244, or at jderoche@ironmountaindailynews.com.

Gwinn edges IM in foul-marred contest 48-46

BY JERRY DeROCHE

Sports Writer

GWINN — Junior guard Lena Pleaugh recorded six of her game-high 26 points in overtime to lead Gwinn to its first win of the season, a 48-46 decision over visiting Iron Mountain in a Mid-Peninsula/West Pac Conference girls varsity basketball game on Wednesday evening.

Pleaugh hit four of four from the foul line in the extra session to help the Modeltowners (1-13) break into the win column.

That the game would come down to free throw shooting was no surprise as the game unfolded. The two teams shot a combined 62 free throws in the game, with the Mountaineers sinking 17 of 26 (65 percent) and Gwinn shooting 15 of 36 (42 percent).

Iron Mountain was called for 26 fouls with starters Emma Ellis, Annslee Runsat and Ellison Powell all fouling out. Chloe Maycroft, also a starter, finished with four fouls.

Gwinn, on the other hand, was whistled for 21 fouls with no player fouling out.

“It’s always a very physical game at Gwinn and this was no different,” Iron Mountain coach Karen Ellis said. “We came out slow, took good shots but they weren’t falling.

“We had the lead until the fourth quarter and Gwinn came back and tied it up. We had opportunities to secure the win, but we missed several inside shots.”

Maycroft paced Iron Mountain (4-11) with 15 points and Powell added 12.

Coach Ellis said her team was also challenged by the schedule.

“We had a big game Tuesday against Westwood, and with our small roster, I knew back-to-back games and a road trip was going to be both mentally and physically tough,” she said.

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 244, or at jderoche@ironmountaindailynews.com.