Westwood struggled to find its offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, falling to (D3-#8) Negaunee 42-36 in Mid Peninsula boys basketball action.
Westwood led 6-4 early, forcing Negaunee out of their full-court press. The Miners built a 16-10 lead after a quarter but Westwood exploded for thirteen of the game’s next fifteen points, including back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from Zach Carlson.
Negaunee recovered to get within 25-24 at halftime before the Patriots built their largest lead of the game at 34-26 midway through the third quarter. That’s when the Miners amped up their defensive pressure, rallying to tie the game at 34 after three while holding Westwood to one field goal in the final 12 minutes of gameplay. Westwood had possession trailing by three with 57 seconds left but turned the ball over and Negaunee put the game away at the free throw line.
Carlson led all scorers with 18 points while Taylor Dellangelo added 12 to pace Westwood. The Patriots are now 8-6 and visit Manistique on Friday.
In the junior varsity contest, Westwood outscored Negaunee 13-0 in the fourth quarter for a 37-36 victory.