ST. NICHOLAS — The Mid Peninsula boys cashed in from the free throw line at crunch time here Thursday night in a 48-40 basketball triumph over the Republic-Michigamme Hawks.

“It was a very good game,” said Mid Pen coach Mark Branstrom. “Our free throw shooting was the difference tonight. We hit them when they really counted. They have a pretty good team again. It was no more than a five-point difference most of the way. In my opinion, the fans got their money’s worth.”

Mid Pen led 25-21 at halftime of the non-conference contest.

Zach Englund led the Wolverines with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Dylan Trudell added 11 points. Eli Luokkala paced the Hawks with 11 points and 12 boards and Gabe DuPont had 10 points.

Mid Pen, with just six available players, was outrebounded 36-29. The Wolverines hit 15-of-50 field goals and R-M sank 15-of-49. Both teams committed 14 turnovers.

“Thankfully, our six were playing pretty good,” said Branstrom. “Zach and Dylan took over late in the third quarter and into the fourth. Zach penetrated and got to the line. Dylan played their big guy (Luokkala) tough and Nick Temple did a great job off the bench.

“We were in foul trouble from the get-go. We had three guys with four fouls, but they dealt with it. The guys decided they weren’t going to lose.”

The Mid Pen jayvees won a 33-30 overtime thriller in the preliminary game.

The Wolverines (1-1) host Big Bay de Noc tonight at 7:30. The Hawks (0-3) resume at Lake Linden-Hubbell Jan. 6.

Republic-Mich. 10 11 12 7 — 40

Mid Peninsula 16 9 12 11 — 48

Republic-Michigamme — Luokkala 11, DuPont 10, Colin Conklin 4, Hannanen 9, Caleb Conklin 6. FT: 8-12; F: 20; Fouled out: Luokkala, Hannanen; 3-point field goals: Luokkala, Caleb Conklin.

Mid Peninsula — Z. Englund 21, Trudell 11, McNally 8, O’Neil 5, M. Englund 3. FT: 15-26; F: 21; Fouled out: McNally; 3-point field goals: McNally, O’Neil, M. Englund.