MUNISING — All season long, the Kingsford Flivvers have been at their best when the tempo of the game picks up. Filled with athletic players, both big and smaller, the Flivvers have been lethal when they can force turnovers and quick shots and then speed down the court in transition.

After a slow first four minutes of Tuesday’s Division 2 Regional 9 semifinal, the Flivvers forced Sault Ste. Marie into that type of game and went on to blow out the Blue Devils 65-29 at Munising High School.

Down 8-1, Kingsford went on a 27-2 run bridging the first and second quarters to end all doubt about which team would advance and which team would be eliminated.

Flivver coach Dan Olkkonen said his team’s trapping pressure and Sault Ste. Marie’s resultant quick shots gave his team its chance to break free.

“That’s us,” Olkkonen said of the pressure defense and the flurry of points. “That’s the best asset of this team. This game was all about tempo control and the press was probably better than it has been all year.”

With his team down seven, Olkkonen went to his team’s run-and-jump press, which is designed to surprise trap the opposition’s ball handler, often from behind. If it works, turnovers and fast breaks are the result.

And it worked Tuesday night. The pressure defense quickened the tempo, forced the Blue Devils to play an open court game against a much quicker team and kept the Flivvers (20-4) from trying to contend with Sault Ste. Marie’s 3-2 zone defense.

With the Blue Devils leading 10-9 to start the second quarter, the game changed in a blink of an eye.

Kingsford center Jacob Markworth started a 19-0 run with a jump hook in the post to give his team its first lead at 11-10.

Then Morgan Sleik scored in transition, Gavin Grondin sank two free throws and nailed a 3-pointer, Gavin Trevillian scored in transition, Grondin followed with a three-point play and Sleik sank another layup.

Meanwhile, Sault Ste. Marie committed six turnovers and was left in the dust.

Olkkonen said his team’s pressure clearly bothered the Blue Devils.

“You start to sniff that out,” he said. “They started to take quick shots and we rebounded and got our kick-outs.

“And that just amped up our guys more and more.”

By the time the second quarter ended, the Flivvers had built a 33-14 lead, and the game was effectively over as the Blue Devils dejectedly headed for the locker room at halftime.

The Flivvers started the third quarter the same way they ended the second. Sleik scored off an assist by Jack Kriegl, Grondin recorded another and-one in transition and Markworth scored in the post to increase Kingsford’s lead to 40-16 with just under four minutes left in the period.

Not long after, both coaches began to bring their substitutes into the game for the remainder of the contest.

Grondin led the way offensively for the Flivvers with 29 points, which included four 3-pointers and 9 of 10 from the foul line, while Sleik was impressive offensively with 16 points.

“Morgan picked us up, made his shots and had a really good game for us,” Olkkonen said.

Other scorers for Kingsford included Trevillian with eight, Markworth with six, Owen Olkkonen and Connor Quick with three each and Cardel Morton with two on a fast break dunk.

With the victory, the Flivvers qualified for their second straight regional final and will take on Ludington (19-6) today at Gaylord High School. The Orioles advanced with a 46-25 victory over Clare on Tuesday.

Olkkonen said Ludington is a senior-oriented team that is built around its defense.

“They’re fast and their guards are physical, and they’ll be tough to handle,” he said.

The tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CST.