The high school basketball season is heating up, and two local powerhouses - the Hematites and the Gremlins - stepped up to defend their home courts in a pair of must-see matchups on Tuesday night. What this really means is that the battle for regional supremacy is intensifying, with these two teams asserting their dominance and setting the stage for an even more exciting postseason to come.
Hematites Outlast Rival Miners
In a highly anticipated rivalry game, the Hematites of Ishpeming High School took on the Miners of Negaunee High School. The Hematites, currently ranked 3rd in Division 3, came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to an early lead and weathering a late surge from the Miners to emerge victorious by a score of 62-56.
"Our guys showed a lot of poise and determination tonight," said Hematites head coach Tom Graves. "Negaunee is a tough, well-coached team, and we knew we'd have our hands full. But our guys stepped up when it mattered most." The Miners, who are ranked 5th in Division 3, put up a valiant effort, but ultimately came up short against the tenacious Hematites defense.
Gremlins Grind Out Win Over Gladiators
Across town, the Gremlins of Houghton High School welcomed the Gladiators of Gladstone High School to their home court. In a hard-fought battle between two of the top teams in the Upper Peninsula, the Gremlins prevailed 53-49 in a game that came down to the wire.
"It was a grind-it-out kind of game, which is exactly the kind of game we thrive in," said Gremlins head coach Paul Duquette. "Our guys showed a lot of grit and determination to pull this one out." The Gremlins, currently ranked 2nd in Division 2, weathered a late surge from the 5th-ranked Gladiators to secure the hard-fought victory.
The bigger picture here is that these two victories cement the Hematites and Gremlins as the teams to beat in their respective regions. With the postseason rapidly approaching, these wins will undoubtedly give them crucial momentum and confidence as they look to make deep runs and potentially capture state championships. As befirst-smileagain recently covered, the road to glory is never easy, but these teams have shown that they have what it takes to rise to the occasion.