Iron Mountain senior Oskar Kangas elevates for a dunk against Manistique on Monday at Mountaineer Gym. (Terry Raiche photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — With their skill, athleticism, doggedness and hunger, the Iron Mountain Mountaineers are certainly going to produce some blowout victories in 2024-25.

So far, they’re two for two.

The Mountaineers pounced on Manistique right from the opening tip, taking a 20-0 lead just 3½ minutes into the game, and went on to record their second consecutive rout, this one an 82-26 victory over the Emeralds in a West Pac Conference game Monday night at Mountaineer Gym.

Senior Oskar Kangas scored 13 of his game-high 28 points in the first quarter to spark Iron Mountain to its second straight victory, their first coming three nights previous in a 72-22 blowout of West Iron County.

The 6-foot-6 forward explained his squad’s first-quarter blitzes (they led WIC 27-2 after one quarter) in their opening two games.

“I guess the whole thing is, before the year we said we want to play faster,” he said. “So I think on Friday we showed that, and I think today we did that really well. I think that’s what led us to that because when we get going, we’re hard to stop.”

The Mountaineers hit Manistique (0-1) with a full-court man press with menacing traps. Against the hounding of guards Brayden Kassin, Gerald Sampoll Torres and Ian Marttila, the Emeralds turned the ball over 13 times in the first quarter, including seven before they even got a shot off.

And by the 5:03 mark of the opening period, Iron Mountain had built a 20-point advantage and the game was effectively over.

“I told the guys, ‘I don’t think it’s going to be 27-2 at the end of the first quarter tonight,” IM coach Harvey “Bucky” Johnson said. “I wasn’t thinking that way. So, the kids obviously got off to a great start.”

The dominant run to begin the game was one part a quick offensive attack and one part a tenacious defensive effort.

After Sampoll Torres began the game with a jumper and fed Marttila for a lay-in and after Evan Copley buried a trey, Kangas scored three quick hoops in transition, including two tomahawk dunks.

Kangas, a four-year starter and a standout from the time he was a 14-year old freshman, was explosive off the drive and deadly in the post and on the perimeter. He seemed to play the game Monday night with an ease that speaks both to his experience and to his participation in AAU ball in the past off seasons.

“He plays all summer and spring against some pretty high-level competition and I think that helps him move faster like he has to be successful,” Johnson said.

While Kangas led the way during the decisive opening run, he had plenty of help. Sampoll Torres tallied seven of his 16 points in the first quarter, Copley registered nine of his 15 and Marttila had all five of his points.

Kassin then rang up all 13 of his points over the second and third quarters when IM increased its 53-10 halftime lead to 76-17 after three.

While the sophomore guard impressed offensively as the game wore on, he put his stamp on the game immediately with his defense on Manistique point guard Mack Pugh.

“Brayden’s an athletic kid, he’s smart, he understands angles.” Johnson said. “He’s going to work hard, he’s going to listen, he’s going to be coachable, and he’s just a pleasure to coach.”

With the game being played with a running clock the entire second half, Johnson began to work his reserves into the fray. Sophomore forward/guard Charles Anderson scored four points and junior forward Collin Punzel sank a pair of free throws down the stretch.

The Mountaineers held Manistique to just 11 made field goals. Junior Jayce Goudreau topped the Emeralds with six points and sophomore Wesley Segerstrom finished with five.

So it’s so far so good for the Mountaineers, who were set to face Gladstone (1-1) on the road on Tuesday evening.

How long and in how many games the Mountaineers can play an all-out pressing, fast-break game is yet to be seen, but when they can, they can be deadly.

“We want to play fast, we want to pressure the ball, and we want to rebound the ball because when we play good defense and rebound the ball, it’s a lot of fun,” Johnson said. “We’d like to continue that style of play, but we also understand that there are points in the year that you’d better be able to execute in the halfcourt.”

FLIVVERS 57, PATRIOTS 50

ISHPEMING — In the midst of a four-game stretch of road games, the Kingsford boys varsity basketball team kept its perfect record intact on Monday as it went to Ishpeming and picked up a 57-50 win over Westwood.

“I kind of knew it was going to be a battle coming into this one,” Flivvers’ head coach Ben Olsen said. “Westwood basketball is known for their physicality and toughness and coach Gray does a great job preparing them and getting them ready.

“They did a great job of slowing our break down and for a large portion of the game making it half court.”

Despite Kingsford holding a 10-point lead at one point, the Patriots battled their way back into the game in the fourth quarter.

“They were able to make it a possession game with about 2 minutes to go,” Olsen said. “We made just enough plays to escape with a win.”

Owen Olkkonen connected on two free throws late in the fourth quarter to secure the 57-50 win for Kingsford.

Senior Gavin Grondin ended the game with 25 points while fellow-senior Morgan Sleik pitched in 18 points. Olkkonen added nine points.

As a unit, the Flivvers went 11 for 12 from the free throw line while the Patriots were 10 for 12.

“We were really fortunate to escape (with the win),” Olsen said. “Westwood always has been a tough place to play and (this) was no exception.

Kingsford is off until Tuesday, when it heads to Iron River to face West Iron County.

BADGERS 50, PATRIOTS 30

PEMBINE, Wis. — The Niagara boys varsity basketball team went to Pembine, Wis. on Monday and dismantled Goodman/Pembine en rout to a 50-30 Marinette & Oconto Conference win.

The Badgers are now 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

Niagara connected on two first-half 3-pointers and scored 19 points in the frame to take a 19-10 lead into the break. It outscored the Patriots 31-20 in the second half to pick up the win.

Senior Tommy Martin led the Badgers with 19 points. He was a perfect 2 for 2 from the free throw line.

Niagara also received contributions from Alex Tripp (6 points), Gavin Neuens (7 points) Dante Stachowicz (6 points), Cameron Schiefelbein (10 points) and Noah Wheeler (2 points).

The Badgers are back in action on Friday at home against Lena.

NORDICS 64, SOARING EAGLES 57

FELCH TOWNSHIP — Outside of its second game of the season, the North Dickinson boys varsity basketball team has been on a roll and it continued that Monday against Hannahville-Nah Tah Wahsh in Felch Township.

The Nordics jumped on the Soaring Eagles early and rolled to a 64-57 win.

“We got off to a hot start in the first half, but we weren’t able to put Hannahville away,” North Dickinson head coach Chris Mattson said. “(Hannahville) fought throughout the entire game. But, we did what we had to do.”

Spencer Kramer had 13 first-half points while Trenton Kramer pitched in 12 and the Nordics took a 37-26 lead into the break. Both teams scored 28 second-half points.

“Just very unselfish play from (Spencer Kramer) all game,” Mattson said.

Trenton Kramer led all scorers with 28 points. He also hauled in 13 rebounds.

North Dickinson also received contributions from Ty King (16 points, 9 rebounds), Spencer Kramer (19 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) and Mason Anderson (2 points).

The Nordics head to Munising on Friday.

Daily News sports editor Sean Chase contributed to this report.