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HERMANSVILLE -- Close games were the rule on the opening night of the 83rd Annual Gold Medal basketball tournament Thursday in Hermansville, as all four games were decided by 10 points or less.
In the Class D opener, Tucker Taylor was fouled while attempting a shot from nearly full court.
The Gwinn High School graduate then calmly sank a pair of free throws as time expired, lifting Powers Stihl Saw Service past Wallace Jim's Plumbing 68-67 at the Frank Rodman Community Club gym.
"That's what I did in high school," he said. "I'm used to that. I just tried to heave it up, and the defender got in my way."
Jordan Strahl tallied 32 of his 37 points in the first half, helping Jim's build a 43-28 halftime advantage. He also hit 10 of his 11 3-point shots before the intermission.
"I've never seen anyone shoot that good in my life," Taylor said. "In the second half, we had Jason (Kirschner) come off the back side. We knew if we could get him to stop making so many shots, it'd be a close game."
Escanaba senior Connor Smale led Powers with 22 points. Taylor finished with 16, and Brady Eichmeier and Kirschner had 13 each.
Menominee senior Brady Badker added 12 for Jim's.
In the nightcap, Tom Granquist drained a pair of free throws with 23.4 seconds remaining, enabling Farmers Only to secure a 71-63 victory over Stephenson Wilson Farms.
Wilson Farms took a 39-33 lead on two free throws by Jorden Miller early in the second half.
Farmers Only trailed 57-56 with five minutes left before a 3-point play by Justin Bloniarz put the winners ahead for good.
Josh Granquist led Farmers Only with 26 points. Bloniarz finished with 24. Miller and Tyler Beauchamp had 14 apiece for Wilson Farms.
In Class C, Justin Nelson drained a pair of gifters with 3.8 seconds remaining as Iron River Shamco then hung on for a 47-45 triumph over Daggett Kakuk Construction.
The defensive battle was tied at 21 at halftime.
Nelson scored 18 points, and Ryan Shamion added 14 for Shamco. Menominee senior Aiden Bellisle and Tyler Price hit 11 points each, and Maroons' senior Brady Schultz had 10.
In Class EE, a little bit of work down low by Reggie Johnson and Tyler Beauchamp in the final three minutes helped push Iron Mountain Fire Place North ahead of Norway Gallino Seamless Gutters 72-62.
Two putbacks and an eight-foot set shot by Johnson enabled Iron Mountain to gain a 68-62 lead with 96 seconds left to play.
Beauchamp added a 3-point play, and Johnson split a pair of free throws to secure the decision.
The winners were led by Beauchamp's 23 points. Josh Beauchamp tossed in 17, and Johnson had 13.
Keall Emmers hit 25 for Gallino's. Norway senior Nolan Amundson scored 19, and Jorgen Kleiman had 11.
The tournament continued with four games Friday night, and the Class A and junior high teams taking center stage this weekend. The Class A title game takes place Sunday at 5 p.m. (CDT).