Mantistique High School’s Jake Arnold, center, prepares to run into a lay-up shot against the Gwinn Modeltowners Friday night, Dec. 16, 2016, at Gwinn High School. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

By Ryan Stieg

Marquette Mining Journal

GWINN — Late in the game Friday night, it appeared as if a solid performance by the Gwinn boys basketball team’s would go to waste, but then its big man came through.

Reed Wiedenhoefer put in a layup to give the Modeltowners a two-point lead with less than a minute left, then made three free throws to help nail down a 64-58 win over Manistique. Wiedenhoefer led all scorers with 21 points, while teammate Austin Forbes had 16 and Tucker Taylor 14.

“The win didn’t happen the way we wanted it to, but you have games like this,” Gwinn head coach Jim Finkbeiner said. “The kids have to learn about resilience. When you get in a tough spot, you have to fight back and they did.

“We had a nice lead, but then we made some mistakes and let them back in it. We didn’t quit working, though, and we got it done in the end.”

Gwinn (2-2) went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter and held a 56-45 advantage, but the Emeralds (0-3) battled back on a 10-0 surge to pull within one. Manistique’s run was highlighted by a three-point play by Jake Arnold, who led the Emeralds with 17 points.

Wiedenhoefer then put in two free throws to extend Gwinn’s lead, but Colton Hoholik drilled a trey to tie the game 58-58 before the Modeltowners pulled away.

The outcome wasn’t what he wanted, but Emeralds head coach Ed Marietti thought his team took some steps forward.

“This is the best game we’ve played so far and it was nice to be in a game till the end,” he said. “If we had a little better shooting and a little better free throw shooting, it might’ve been a different story.

“I was happy with the effort, though. We had some opportunities and we’re getting better.”

Manistique opened with a 6-0 lead and held a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gwinn fought back in the second and the two teams exchanged leads throughout the period.

Manistique’s Nolan Armock hit a jumper to tie the game 29-29, but Wiedenhoefer knocked down a shot on the next play to give Gwinn a 31-30 advantage at the half.

The Modeltowners stayed in control during the third frame, but Manistique cut its deficit to four heading into the final quarter on a three-point play by Hoholik.

Gwinn plays at Negaunee Tuesday, while Manistique is off until Dec. 29.