Negaunee Miners Roll To Another 'C' Regional Title

ESCANABA---The Negaunee Miners added to their basketball trophy collection Wednesday with an easy 60-22 win over the Houghton Gremlins in the Class C Regional Championship game at the Escanaba High School Gym.

Tyler Jandron scored 20 points and the rest of the Neagunee team had some fun as the Miners dominated every acspect of the game. It was especially evident on the defensive end, where Negaunee held Houghton to just eight points in the first half.

"That's kind of where we've hung our hats all season," Negaunee Coach Mike O'Donnell said. "We struggled with our shooting early, and Houghton played well in that zone."

"They really packed it in. So, we needed to do something defensively, and our guys were able to turn the ball over and get some transition baskets."

The Miners led, 25-8, at the time, but Jandron says the offense was sluggish.

"When we're not hitting right away, our defense picks up and that's when we get our layups," Jandron said. "And then once we hit our mid-range shots, we start to get our three-point shots. Our whole five starters can score."

"We have no clue who's gonna have a good night."

The Negaunee defense frustrated Houghton's best shooter, Ryan LaBerge, who threw up several three-point baskets that were either airballs or barely hit the rim.

Negaunee's Tanner Uren scores from Brock Weaver.

The Miners won their third straight regional championship, and it was their sixth title in eight years. But O'Donnell says that winning trophies is still sweet.

"No, it never gets old," O'Donnell said. "I still call it a U.P. championship, even though some downstate teams are now in our region. To be able to make the trip downstate to the quarterfinals again, it's a fun time. We had business to take care of tonight."

And now the Miners head downstate to the quarterfinals, which have been tough for the team to win over the past few years. Negaunee will face Maple City Glen Lake next Tuesday night in Gaylord. Glen Lake beat Shelby, 64-62, in overtime Wednesday night.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see videos from the game, listen to interviews, and look at celebration photos.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/4	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	70 - 32 (W)	1-0

1/3	7:45 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	69 - 53 (W)

1/9	7:30 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	69 - 42 (W)

2/12	7:15 PM	at Gladstone Braves	79 - 46 (W)

3/11	6:00 PM	Harbor Springs Rams	64 - 37 (W)

3/13	7:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	60 - 22 (W)

3/19	7:00 PM	Maple City Glen Lake	56 - 55 (W)	24-1

3/21	2:50 PM	at Laingsburg Wolfpack	43 - 45 (L)

Negaunee Drops Semifinal On Buzzer-Beater, 45-43

Thursday March 21, 2013

MSU-Bound! Jets, Miners Advance To State Semis

Tuesday March 19, 2013