Kingsford’s Nic Nora (0) rises up and launches a fade-away jump shot over Negaunee defender Mason Sager (2) for a bucket during Tuesday night’s boys varsity basketball contest at Kingsford High School. The Flivvers downed the Miners 47-36 in what could be a district tournament preview. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — With a potential MHSAA Division 2, District 33 semifinal matchup next week, the Kingsford Flivvers and the Negaunee Miners were likely a bit hesitant to showcase anything special when the teams met Tuesday in the penultimate game of the regular season for both boys varsity basketball squads.

So the contest between the second-ranked Flivvers and the third-ranked Miners at Kingsford High School wasn’t what it normally would have been. In the end, Kingsford left with a 47-36 victory for its 10th win in its last 11 games.

Morgan Sleik scored eight of 13 points in the first quarter to lift Kingsford (17-3) to an 11-point lead and neither team made much of a push after that.

“We were able to make a few more shots than they did in the first quarter …,” Kingsford coach Dan Olkkonen said. “Then it was even from there on out.

“Wasn’t the most exciting game. I don’t think either team felt like they got in any type of rhythm. But (it is the) last week of the season and a chance that we play next week, so I don’t think either team was showing their best.”

Niagara’s Aiden Colenso (3) looks on as fellow Badger Ed Swanson (2) battles Goodman-Pembine’s Ryan Erickson (4) for a loose ball during the WIAA Regional semi-final at Niagara High School on Tuesday night. The visiting Patriots will advance after beating the Badgers 48-30. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

After falling behind 16-5 through one quarter, the Miners (15-6) crept to within 27-18 at halftime. Kingsford nudged the lead to 38-25 after three quarters and kept its distance from there.

Nic Nora led all scorers with 14 points for Kingsford. Cardell Morton scored nine points and Gavin Grondin added seven.

The Flivvers finish their regular season by entertaining North Dickinson (6-14) on Thursday.

Kingsford drew a bye into the semifinal round of District 33, which will be hosted by Negaunee and will begin Monday, March 6 when the Miners will face Houghton (14-6).

The winner will square off against the Flivvers on Wednesday, March 8. Escanaba (14-6) and Gladstone (9-11) play in the other semi on March 8 in Escanaba.

TROJANS 76, PANTHERS 29

CRYSTAL FALLS — Forest Park ran out to a 22-point lead after the first quarter and cruised to a 76-29 victory over Ewen-Trout Creek in a nonconference game Tuesday at Eddie Chambers Gymnasium.

Kevin Guiliani paced the Trojans (13-7) with 17 points in just 12 minutes of action. Felix Quevedo finished with 14 points, eight steals and four assists and Gaven Rintala and Grayson Sundell recorded 11 points each.

Michael Saario posted six assists and five rebounds while Gabe Quevedo grabbed five rebounds for the Trojans, who have won three straight.

The Trojans led 25-3 after one, then 37-13 at halftime. FP then buried the Panthers (9-12) even further in the third, taking a 65-23 lock on the game.

The Trojans will shoot to share the Skyline Central Conference-Small Division when they travel to Division 4 fourth-ranked North Central (15-5) on Thursday in the regular-season finale for both teams. Forest Park sits at 6-2 in the league, while the Jets stand at 7-1. North Central won the first meeting 62-58 on Feb. 3 in Crystal Falls.

Forest Park will compete for the Division 4 District 99 Watersmeet title, which will begin on Monday, March 6 when Republic-Michigamme (5-14) hosts North Dickinson (6-14). The Trojans will travel to Norway to take on the Knights (14-6, tied for the No. 5 in the latest UPSSA poll) on Wednesday, March 8, in one semifinal. The other will put the winner of the opening-round game against the other fifth-ranked team, Watersmeet (16-4), also on March 8.

The Jets play in District 100 to be hosted by Mid-Peninsula. North Central will face the winner of Hannahville Nah Tah (11-9) and Mid-Peninsula (4-14) on Wednesday, March 8, in one semifinal. The other semi matches Stephenson (12-9) and Carney-Nadeau (3-17) on the same night in Stephenson.

PATRIOTS 48, BADGERS 30

NIAGARA, Wis. — The Niagara Badgers had their hopes of a postseason run cut short by rival Goodman-Pembine, as the visiting Patriots handed the host team a 48-30 loss in the WIAA Regional semi-final Tuesday night.

While the Badgers (13-12) fought to defend their home court, the Patriots (7-15) slowly pulled away and were able to build a 26-14 advantage at halftime. They sealed the win by outscoring Niagara 22-16 in the second half.

Goodman-Pembine was powered by Ryan Ehlert’s game-high 17 points. Lucas Barribeau added 10 points, with Tommy Leonard and Kyle Braaten both hitting for six points against the Badgers.

Blake Holmes finished as Niagara’s top scorer with eight points.

Other contributors for the Badgers included Aiden Colenso with seven points, Ed Swanson and Tommy Martin each with five points, Nicholas Krueger with three points and Logan Weber with two points.

MUSTANGS 70, KNIGHTS 65

NORWAY — The visiting Norway Knights might have been able to beat the Skyline Central Conference-Large champion Munising on Tuesday night, but they couldn’t beat Mustangs’ Trever Nolan.

Nolan was a one-man wrecking crew, hitting eight three-pointers on his way to a game-high 28 points and helping Munising (20-1 overall, 9-0 conference) to a 70-65 victory over the second-place Knights (14-6 overall, 6-2 conference).

“Trevor Nolan had a tremendous game for them shooting the ball,” said Norway coach Jeff Gallino. “Nolan’s 3s were from NBA range. He was hot.”

Meanwhile, the Knights got off to a slow start, trailing 20-13 after the opening stanza but were able to narrow the game to a single point, 33-32, at halftime. And it stayed tight throughout the third quarter, with both teams scoring 16 points.

The Mustangs, however, would outgun the Knights 21-17 in the final stanza to clinch the win.

“Last night was a battle,” Gallino said. “We needed a couple better possessions late to secure the win. Other than that, I thought we played one of the best games we played all year.

“Our effort and focus were tremendous all night,” he added. “Cole Baij and Alex Ortman had solid nights offensively. Wyatt (Spade) was all over the court on both ends.”

Ortman was indeed “solid” offensively, nearly equally Nolan while leading the Knights with 27 points on 12-of-13 shooting. Baij and Michael Peterson also were in double digits with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Also contributing for Norway were Spade with six points, Tyler Neuens with three points and Ian Popp two points.

Norway finishes its regular season at Rapid River on Friday, then hosts Forest Park (12-7) in a MHSAA Division 4, District 99 semi-final contest on Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m.

BRONCOS 57, NORDICS 49

HARRIS — North Dickinson’s Spencer Kramer and Antonio Inglese combined for 40 points, but that wasn’t enough to beat host Bark River-Harris, which topped the visiting Nordics for a 57-49 victory in the clash Tuesday night.

Kramer torched the Broncos (7-15) for a game-high 22 points in the nonconference contest, with Inglese chipping in 18 points for the Nordics (6-14).

“Spencer Kramer had a huge game,” said coach Chris Mattson. “He really has been playing well.”

Other contributors for North Dickinson included Colin LaFave with three points, and Earl Gillis, Wyatt Glasheen and Ty King all with two points.

But the top two Nordics ultimately couldn’t top the Broncos who finished with a trio of hoopsters in double digits, as Kaden Drossart hit for a team-high 16 points, and Ethan Ives and Jacob Mileski added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Broncos outscored North Dickinson in each of the first three quarters, including holding a 35-23 lead at halftime.

The Nordics will play Kingsford in their regular-season finale and then open up the postseason with a MHSAA Division 4, District 99 matchup at Republic Michigamme (5-14) in Republic on Monday at 6 p.m.

North Dickinson dominated the Hawks in the only meeting between the two boys varsity basketball teams for a 57-17 road win on Feb. 24.