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Big Fourth Quarter Sends NCA Jets Into Final Four
 SAULT STE. MARIE---The North Central Jets didn't want to get on their bus and head west after Tuesday night's state quarterfinal game against the Hillman Tigers in Sault Ste. Marie. Nope, the boys wanted to instead head south, to East Lansing for the Final Four. And thanks to a big fourth quarter, the Jets did not head back to Menominee County after their game against the Tigers. North Central went on an 11-0 run in the early part of the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 63-51 quarterfinal win over Hillman. And so the boys headed across the Mackinac Bridge for the second time in three years, headed for Michigan State University for a game Thursday against the Fulton Pirates.  "Thank you to all the JETS supporters near and far, who traveled or listened, and who will now be traveling across the Mighty Mac to watch 12 young men represent our community with hard play and class," Mercier posted. "We are excited to be where we are, but know what lies ahead. Getting some rest and then on the road." "Awesome win, Jets. Great turnout, now let's travel safe and well downstate," Mercier wrote. "U.P. Power...we still got a dog in the fight!" Indeed, Mercier's Jets are the Upper Peninsula's only team alive to carry that Yooper banner to MSU this weekend. North Central will try to repeat the state championships that the Calumet and St. Ignace girls teams brought back to the U.P. last weekend. In Tuesday's quarterfinal, the Jets were up against a Hillman team that had won 23 straight games after losing its season-opener against Cedarville. And this game was as special as advertised, with both teams trading offensive spurts all night long. Hillman led, 15-14, after the first quarter, and 28-25 at halftime. The game was tied at 37 after three quarters, and the Tigers scored early in the fourth quarter to take the lead. But the NCA defense took over from there, and the offense stepped it up. The Jets went on an 11-0 run after falling behind, 40-37. And the Jets made their free throws down the stretch to make sure that they would be heading to the state's Final Four. North Central had four players finish in double figures. Sophomore Jason Whitens led the way with 21 points. Senior Rob Granquist scored 16 points. Dawson Bilski added 11 points and Caleb Martin contributed 10 as the Jets improved to 25-0 on the season. Hillman (23-2) was led by superstar Mason Van Pamel, who scored 28 points. North Central (25-0) will face Fullton, a western Lower Michigan team with a 21-4 record, in the semifinals at MSU. Game time on Thursday is 6:50 CT/7:50 ET. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.  |
| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
12/8 |
7:00 PM |
Stephenson Eagles
|
90 - 38 (W)
|
1-0
|
12/11 |
7:30 PM |
Rapid River Rockets
|
71 - 21 (W)
|
2-0
|
12/15 |
8:00 PM |
at Menominee Maroons
|
61 - 42 (W)
|
3-0
|
12/18 |
8:00 PM |
at Carney-Nadeau Wolves
|
63 - 49 (W)
|
4-0
|
1/8 |
8:00 PM |
at Stephenson Eagles
|
93 - 20 (W)
|
5-0
|
1/12 |
7:00 PM |
North Dickinson Nordics
|
75 - 49 (W)
|
6-0
|
1/19 |
7:30 PM |
at Rapid River Rockets
|
71 - 25 (W)
|
7-0
|
1/22 |
7:45 PM |
at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
88 - 40 (W)
|
8-0
|
1/27 |
8:00 PM |
Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
69 - 20 (W)
|
9-0
|
1/30 |
8:00 PM |
Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
84 - 33 (W)
|
10-0
|
2/3 |
8:00 PM |
Carney-Nadeau Wolves
|
72 - 43 (W)
|
11-0
|
2/6 |
7:00 PM |
at Forest Park Trojans
|
46 - 41 (W)
|
12-0
|
2/10 |
7:00 PM |
Menominee Maroons
|
68 - 40 (W)
|
13-0
|
2/13 |
7:00 PM |
Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
87 - 43 (W)
|
14-0
|
2/17 |
7:30 PM |
at North Dickinson Nordics
|
77 - 53 (W)
|
15-0
|
2/20 |
7:30 PM |
Superior Central Cougars
|
78 - 32 (W)
|
16-0
|
2/24 |
7:45 PM |
at Munising Mustangs
|
45 - 43 (W)
|
17-0
|
2/27 |
7:45 PM |
at Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
87 - 44 (W)
|
18-0
|
3/3 |
8:00 PM |
Forest Park Trojans
|
84 - 50 (W)
|
19-0
|
3/5 |
7:30 PM |
at Mid Peninsula Wolverines
|
70 - 34 (W)
|
20-0
|
3/11 |
7:00 PM |
at Bark River-Harris Broncos
|
60 - 49 (W)
|
21-0
|
3/13 |
7:00 PM |
North Dickinson Nordics
|
72 - 55 (W)
|
22-0
|
3/16 |
6:00 PM |
Munising Mustangs
|
48 - 44 (W)
|
23-0
|
3/18 |
7:00 PM |
Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes
|
69 - 53 (W)
|
24-0
|
3/24 |
7:00 PM |
Hillman Tigers
|
63 - 51 (W)
|
25-0
|
3/26 |
7:50 PM |
at Fulton-Middleton Pirates
|
71 - 46 (W)
|
26-0
|
3/28 |
9:00 AM |
at Morenci Bulldogs
|
67 - 47 (W)
|
27-0
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