Big Bay de Noc sophomore Tanner Peterson dribbles against a defender against Macinac Island on Jan. 13, 2026 at Big Bay de Noc School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GARDEN CORNERS — The Big bay de Noc Black Bears put four players in double figures here Tuesday as they defeated Mackinac Island 68-43.

The Lakers scored the first basket of the game as sophomore Jordan Fisher drove to the basket for a layup to put the Lakers up 2-0.

The Black Bears responded as sophomore Tanner Peterson and sophomore Eli Cooper each hit 3-pointers and junior Parker Pederson scored a layup during an 8-0 run to put the Black Bears up 8-2.

“Passing and cutting was key for our offense tonight,” Peterson said. “Our defense did a good job of communicating tonight and this win gives us a good boost of confidence going forward.”

Cooper hit another 3-pointer to extend the lead to 13-5.

“I started to figure out my shot tonight,” Cooper said. “We lost some games that we should not have lost and to get a win tonight really helps us a lot.”

Pederson knocked down a 3-pointer and sophomore Mason Gembel drove to the basket for a layup to put the Black Bears up 18-8 after one quarter of play.

“We cleaned some stuff up tonight,” Black Bears coach Gunnar Mickelson said. “The effort was there tonight and it showed and that was something we have been working on but that will happen when you have a team full of sophomores there is going to be ups and downs that is how the game goes.”

Mason Gembel had 13 of his career-high 20 points in the second quarter as the Black Bears took a 40-23 lead into the halftime break.

“I felt really good out there tonight,” Gembel said. “I was shooting well and getting open and making shots that sometimes I don’t make.”

The Black Bears came out of the locker room and outscored the Lakers 15-10 in the third quarter.

The Black Bears opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 62-33.

Along with the 20-point night from Gembel, Pederson added 17 points while Peterson added 14 and Cooper had 12.

Big Bay de Noc returns to action tonight as they travel to Hannahville.

Mackinac Island 8 15 10 10 — 43

Big Bay de Noc 18 22 15 13 — 68

Mackinac Island — Hardy 2, Fisher 21, Hancock 16, Knutson 2, Womack 2. FT: 8-9; F: 7; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Fisher.

Big Bay de Noc — Gembel 20, Max Pomeroy 2, Cooper 12, Pederson 17, Peterson 14, Matthew Pomeroy 1, Morris 2. FT: 1-5; F: 12; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Cooper 4, Gembel 2, Peterson 2, Pederson.