Dollar Bay players celabrate a regional championship on March 5, 2026 at Lakeview Gymnasium in Negaunee. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

NEGAUNEE — A 25-point outing by Dollar Bay senior Liam Tourtillott proved to be too much for the North Dickinson Nordics here Thursday night as they fell 62-46. It was the first regional championship since the 2018-19 season for the Blue Bolts who now move on to the state quarterfinals Tuesday in Gladstone where they will face the undefeated Pickford Panthers.

“We didn’t want to go home,” Noah Tourtillott said. “We knew we were going to have to give it everything we have to get the win and it feels good but we are not satisfied yet.” Noah Tourtillott finished with only four points but added six assists, four steals and three rebounds in the contest.

The Nordics jumped out to an early 9-5 lead as senior Ty King scored five of the team’s first nine points.

Dollar Bay responded with a 13-0 run as Noah Tourtillott drove to the basket for a layup and seniors Caleb Kentala and Liam Tourtillott each had a 3-pointer to put the Blue Bolts up 13-9 after one quarter of play.

“We have to give credit to Dollar Bay,” Nordics coach Chris Mattson said. Their second quarter was the key to the game. They limited our scoring chances and rebounded the ball well.”

Liam Tourtillott hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter and Noah Tourtillott scored a layup to end the 13-0 run to extend the Blue Bolts lead to 18-9.

The Blue Bolts outscored the Nordics 20-6 in the second quarter with Liam Tourtillott scoring 14 of his 25 points in the second stanza.

“This was a really big win for this team,” Liam Tourtillott said. “We knew coming in it could be our last game so we came out strong and fought hard to get this one and it definitely gives us a boost of confidence going into the quarterfinal on Tuesday.”

Senior Brady Jungwirth led the way for the Nordics with 12 points and junior Trenton Kramer added 10.

Each team had trouble taking care of the ball as Dollar Bay turned it over 17 times while North Dickinson had 16 turnovers.

“Liam is a menace on the defensive side of the ball,” Blue Bolts coach Jesse Kentala said. “In my opinion he is the defensive player of the year. He wasn’t nominated but I will give it to him all day.”

Freshman Tyler Jaehnig also had a good game as he scored 13 points in the contest.

Dollar Bay 13 20 11 18 — 62

North Dickinson 9 6 15 16 — 46

Dollar Bay — Kentala 8, Colbert 12, N. Tourtillott 4, L. Tourtillott 25, Jaehnig 13. FT: 5-5; F: 14; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: L. Tourtillott 7, Kentala 2, Colbert 2.

North Dickinson — Graham 6, T. Kramer 10, Jungwirth 12, S. Kramer 9, King 9. FT: 12-19; F: 12; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Jungwirth 3, King.