Calumet, Baraga Claim Girls District Titles – Saturday Sports Wrap

High School

Girls basketball district champions were crowned last night.

In Division Four…
• Baraga defeated L’Anse 58-24 to win District 98.
 • Ontonagon got past Ewen-Trout Creek 35-31 to claim District 97.
The Vikings and Gladiators will meet in a regional semifinal Tuesday at 6:00 Eastern Time at Kingsford. Carney-Nadeau and Superior Central will play in the other regional semifinal.

In Division Three District 65, Calumet shut down Ishpeming 68-29. Laina Kariniemi led the Copper King with 20 points, and Jana Loukus added 14. Calumet will take on Bark River-Harris in a regional semifinal Tuesday at 7:00 at Marquette. Coverage will begin at 6:40 on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3. St. Ignace and Glen Lake will meet in the other regional semifinal.

In Division Two District 33, Houghton’s season ended with a 52-41 loss to Negaunee.

Westwood dominated the WestPAC boys All-Conference teams announced yesterday. Zach Carlson of the Patriots was named Player of the Year, Marcus Boase Defensive Player of the Year, and Luke Gray Coach of the Year. Houghton’s Mikko Salmi was named to the Dream Team, and Kyle Primeau was placed on the All-Defensive Team. The Copper Division First Team includes Dryden Nelson and Kip Kangas from Calumet, J.D. Sebbas from Hancock, and Tucker Ryynanen and Dylan Primeau from Houghton. Hancock’s Vandan Jacques received Honorable Mention votes. See the full roster here.

Calumet will face Alpena in the quarterfinals of the state hockey tournament today at 1:00 at Lakeview Arena in Marquette. Coverage will begin at 12:40 on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3, and we’ll follow the Kings as far as they go in the state tournament.

College Hockey

Logan Pietila’s overtime goal gave the Michigan Tech hockey team a 3-2 victory over Ferris State in the opening game of their Central Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinal series last night. After a scoreless first period, Logan Ganie put the Huskies on the board early in the second. The Bulldogs responded with two goals, but Tommy Parrottino tied the contest midway through the third. Pietila’s game-winner came on a power play two-and-a-half minutes into extra time. Blake Pietila made 15 saves, as Tech outshot Ferris 48-17. Game two of the series will be played tonight at 6:07 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. If a third game is necessary, it will be played tomorrow.

Northern Michigan University clubbed Lake Superior State 5-1 in the opening game of their series. That set continues tonight at Sault Ste. Marie.

In other CCHA quarterfinal games, Minnesota State edged St. Thomas 3-2, and Bowling Green slipped past Bemidji State 2-1.

College Basketball

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament will conclude this weekend…
• The women’s tournament is being held at Grand Valley State. Michigan Tech faces the top-seeded Lakers in the first semifinal today at 2:00. Wayne State and Ferris State will meet in the second semifinal.
• Michigan Tech is hosting the men’s tournament. The Huskies will face Northern Michigan today at noon in the first semifinal. Davenport will play Saginaw Valley State in the second semifinal at 2:00.
• Championship games at both sites will be played tomorrow.

Michigan Tech is well-represented on the GLIAC All-Conference men’s teams. Owen White was named Player of the Year, and was placed on the First Team and the All-Defensive Team. Trent Bell joined White on both squads, and Carter Johnson was also named to the All-Defensive team. Josh Buettner was honored as Coach of the Year. See the full roster here.

Ellie Mackay of the Huskies was named to the women’s First Team, and Alex Rondorf was placed on the Second Team, and the All-Defensive squad. Isabella Lenz was named Freshman of the Year. See the full roster here.

College Softball

The Finlandia softball team fell 11-4 to St. Mary’s of Minnesota, and 11-3 to Plymouth State yesterday. The Lions wrap up their Florida trip with games against Bridgewater College and Mitchell College today.

College Baseball

The Finlandia baseball team swept Martin Luther College 12-6 and 11-2 yesterday. In the first game, Jacob Mead had four hits, and tied a school record by striking out 13. Jordan D’Angelo had three hits in the nightcap, and Cale Fransen struck out 10. The Lions will conclude their spring trip with a doubleheader against Gordon College this afternoon.

GLHL

The Portage Lake Pioneers lost to the Fox Cities Ice Dogs 6-5 last night. The Pioneers host the Fond du Lac Bears this evening at 7:30 at Dee Stadium.

The Calumet Wolverines downed the Bears 6-2 last night. Tyler Hubbard made 30 saves. Calumet hosts the Ice Dogs tonight at 7:30 at the Colosseum. The Wolverines will be hosting their annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser today between 11:00 and 4:00. $10.00 tickets can be purchased at the door. Meal tickets also include admission to tonight’s game.

NHL

The Detroit Red Wings lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. Robby Fabbri scored Detroit’s only goal. Alex Nedeljkovic made 35 saves.

The Wings visit the Florida Panthers today. Coverage will begin at 5:45 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons scored 12 of the game’s final 13 points, and pushed past the Indiana Pacers 111-106 last night. Saddiq Bey scored 25 points, and Cade Cunningham added 20.

The Pistons have won five of their last seven games, and host the Atlanta Hawks Monday. Coverage will begin at 6:35 on 99.3 The Lift.

CopperDog 150

Defending champion J.R. Anderson holds a narrow lead after the first stage of the CopperDog 150 sled dog race last night. Anderson finished 43 seconds faster than Ryan Anderson. Rita Wehseler is a minute off the pace. Local mushers Tom Bauer and Sarah Tarlton are in eighth and ninth place. The CopperDog 150 will resume this morning at 10:00 in Eagle Harbor, as mushers head to Copper Harbor for stage two of the three-stage event.

Bucky Tippett leads the two-stage CopperDog 80 race after last night’s opening run from Calumet to Phoenix. Tippett holds a nearly two-minute lead over Lynne Witte. Martha Schouweiler is five minutes back. Among local mushers, Jerry Trudell is fourth, and Kiira Hadden and Sophie Mehl are eighth and ninth. The CopperDog 80 will conclude tomorrow morning.

The single-stage CopperDog 25 will take place this afternoon at 2:30 in Copper Harbor. Listen for updates through the weekend on the radio voices of the CopperDog, 97.7 The Wolf and KBear 102.3. Follow the race online here.

Local Sports Broadcasts

• Today – hockey quarterfinal at Marquette – Calumet v Alpena – 12:40 pregame on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3.
• Monday – Division Three boys basketball district quarterfinal – Gwinn at Calumet – 5:40 pregame on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3.
• Monday – Division Two boys basketball district semifinal – Houghton at Kingsford – 5:40 pregame on the Voice of the Gremlins, 97.7 The Wolf.
• Tuesday – Division Three girls basketball regional semifinal at Marquette – Calumet v Bark River-Harris – 6:40 pregame on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3.

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