ORANGE CRUSH! Wolverines Roll To District Title

PERKINS---Damian Richmond scored 21 points and Terry Brower added 20 as the Mid Peninsula Wolverines beat Big Bay deNoc, 54-36, in the Class D District Championship game Friday night in Perkins. It was Mid Pen's first district title since 1996.

"It's been a long time since I've had that feeling," Mid Peninsula Coach Mark Branstrom said. "My AD (Gary Brayak) and my two boys (assistants Brett and Carl Branstrom)...Brett was almost crying. He had tears welling up inhis eyes. On the sideline when they were handing the medals out."

The Wolverines did it again with defense, holding the high-scoring Big Bay team to four points in the first quarter, and 15 points in the first half.

"It's not rewarding, and you don't get in the paper playing defense," Branstrom said. "But you get in the paper when we win."

Richmond was tough inside again for the Wolverines, scoring eight of his points in the first quarter as Mid Pen took a 12-4 lead after the first eight minutes. And he scored seven more points in the second quarter as the Wolverines built a 30-15 lead at halftime.

"I knew we had to play strong, and that's what I tried to do," Richmond said. "We knew they were gonna be strong inside, especially with (Keenen) Adams, and both the Johnson twins can jump out of the gym. And we knew that we had to guard (James) Casey out on the perimeter too. We had to make sure where he was at all times."

"So, we just had to keep talking, just like in the Munising game, and help each other out (defensively) all the time."

Brower was his typical hot-shooting self, nailing three three-point baskets in the second quarter alone...including one that ended the first half, sending the Wolverines into the locker room with a 15-point lead. Big Bay closed to within nine points in the third quarter, but Brower nailed another three to end the third quarter.

That was pretty much Lights Out for the game.

"His shooting bars none right now," Branstrom said. "I don't think there's too many people in the tournament right now that...I'm not saying he's the only one...but, he's pretty hot right now. He's been shooting well all year, but he's putting it in the hole right now."

Dooner Englund had another solid game at the point guard position, with eight points, but more importantly, strong defense and ball-handling up and down the court.

"He (Branstrom) wants me to just control the ball, make sure it is distributed well, and look for the open man," Englund said.

For Big Bay, it was a disappointing end to what the boys hoped would be a strong playoff run, especially for seniors Keenen Adams and James Casey. Adams had seven points and Casey scored five in Friday's game. Sophomore Lucas Sundling scored ten points.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was a sea of Orange and White on the court as the Wolverines celebrated together for the first time in two decades.

"We had the hardest schedule overall, I think," Englund said. "We had to go through all of the big boys. Big Bay was by far the strongest team we've played so far (in the district tournament)."

"I think it's amazing," Richmond said. "We've all worked so hard. It's paid off."

Mid Peninsula will face Crystal Falls Forest Park in the regional semifinals Monday night in Negaunee. Forest Park beat Ewen-Trout Creek, 46-42, Friday night to advance.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from the game, and to hear radio replays, interviews.