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Norway pulls away from Emeralds

MANISTIQUE — The Manistique boys couldn’t match Norway’s production in the second half as they dropped a 79-48 basketball decision to the Knights here Friday.

Manistique trailed by just two points early in the third quarter of the Mid-Peninsula Conference match-up. Norway, however, extended its lead to 57-37 by the end of the third.

“They started getting second and third shots and hit some threes,” said Emeralds’ coach Ed Marietti. “They were also getting some easy baskets. We were crashing the offensive boards and weren’t getting back on defense.”

Justin Bal scored 22 points for the Knights (2-0) after their M-PC opener. Connor Ortman added 18 points and 15 rebounds. Bryce Broden hit 11 points and Josh Plante added 10.

Bay College recruit Darien Nichols paced the Emeralds (0-2 overall and M-PC) with 17 points. Colton Hoholik also reached double figures with 11 points.

Norway held a 38-17 rebounding advantage and hit 30-of-63 field goals. Manistique was 18-of-53 from the floor and committed 13 turnovers.

“We didn’t expect their big guys to shoot the threes as well as they did,” said Marietti.

“They were getting to the loose balls and we were one step behind. Our defense wasn’t up to par in the second half.”

The Emeralds, who also dropped the jayvee contest 55-32, travel to Gwinn Friday. And Norway hosts North Dickinson Tuesday.

Norway     18  17   22   22 —  79

Manistique  4   15   8   11–   48

Norway — Wilson 8, Plante 10, Faul 2, Broden 11, Bal 22, Evosevich 8, Ortman 18. FT: 11-17; F: 18; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Ortman 4, Bal 3, Wilson

Manistique — Rice 4, Hoholik 11, Block 2, Arnold 2, Nichols 17, Armock 8, J. Seeley 2, McKeage 2. FT: 10-19; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Hoholik 2.

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