NEGAUNEE, MI – 3/14/15 – Negaunee Basketball may be done for 2014-2015, but Negaunee Memorial Gymnasium isn’t quite done yet. There will be three more games played in what is considered by many to be the best gym in the U.P. Class D Region 32 will be headed to Negaunee, MI to decide who will represent the U.P. in the quarterfinals. There is a chance of a couple other teams representing as well, St. Ignace is down in Pellston, but this is the one region with a guarantee.
The district champions of District 125, 126, 127, & 128 will be headed to Negaunee to duke it out. Here is a look at the match-ups coming to Negaunee!
GAME #1 @ 6pm on March 16th
Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes vs. Forest Park Trojans
- The Lakes are coming in with a 22-0 record and CCC championship under their belts. They absolutely dominated Chassell in the first round of the playoffs, 80-36. They then dispatched Jeffers for the third time this year with a 46-31 win.
- Forest Park comes in with the worst record in the region, a disappointing 18-4 record (sarcasm). Three of their four losses have been against Munising and North Central twice. Just for perspective, they share a combined record of 45-1, and North Central only beat Munising by two. Coming off of two impressive wins, a 34 point win over Wakefield-Marenisco, and a 33 point win over Bessemer.
Both of these teams will have the chance to take on the U.P. Class-D powerhouses in the next game…
GAME #2 @ 6pm on March 16th
Munising Mustangs vs. North Central Jets
- Munising has one loss this year. Was it against Marquette? Nope, they beat them 38-36 on the road. Gwinn had their moments this year, how about them? Nope, destroyed them twice. Who was it then? North Central. The Mustangs are coming in with a 21-1 record and have revenge on their minds. The Jets eliminated Munising from last year’s playoffs with a half-court shot, then hit a buzzer beater to beat Munising this year.
- The Jets are undefeated. The #1 team in the UPSSA polls, and looking to continue their recent luck against the Mustangs. They’re coming in off of a 11 point win over Bark River-Harris, and a 17 point win over North Dickinson, who they swept this year by a combined 77 points in three games.
Negaunee will be the place to be this Monday. The path to the Class D quarterfinals will run through Lakeview. Good luck to all teams involved!
-Carl Leander Johnson
