On the final week of the boys poll, Bessemer finally got its due. Unranked for nearly the entirety of the season with a sparking record but a weak schedule, No. 5 Bessemer (15-3) finally broke through after sweeping the season series with Ewen-Trout Creek (16-4).
No. 1 Negaunee (19-1) and No. 1 Cedarville (19-1) both secured all five first-place votes and have held their respective top spots for much of the season. No. 2 Marquette (16-3), which held the No. 1 spot earlier this season after a victory over Negaunee, clung to the No. 2 spot after a surprising road loss to Houghton (12-7) last week. The defeat didn't seem to dampen the Redmen's postseason chances as they dispatched Petoskey Monday night in their Class A district opener.
Elsewhere, Class D No. 3 North Central (17-3) took care of Mid Peninsula for the third time in nine days, ousting the Wolverines 87-65 and bringing to a close the wondrous career of Brett Branstrom who is likely to be named an All-State player for the second consecutive year.
Fact Box
CLASS A-B-C
Record Pts.
No. 1 Negaunee (5) (19-1)25
No. 2 Marquette (16-3) 19
No. 3 Ironwood (17-3)16
No. T-4 Gwinn (14-6) 7
No. T-4 Kingsford (14-5) 7
Others receiving votes:?Iron Mountain (14-6) 1.
CLASS D
Record Pts.
No. 1 Cedarville (5) (19-1) 25
No. 2 Carney-Nadeau (17-3) 19
No. 3 North Central (17-3) 16
No. 4 Brimley (17-3) 6
No. 5 Bessemer (15-3) 5
Others receiving votes: Munising (15-4) 3, Ewen-Trout Creek (16-4) 1.
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First-place votes follow team name. Voting conducted by five-member panel for the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.