The victory enables the Patriots (19-5) to advance to the regional opener at Marquette Senior High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, when they’ll face Iron Mountain (21-3). The Hematites finish their season at 13-11.

Westwood split with the Mountaineers during the regular season, winning 61-56 at Iron Mountain on Jan. 3 and dropping a 58-32 decision at home on Jan. 23.

On Friday, the Patriots led 49-42 through three quarters prior to starting the fourth with an 11-5 run.

After senior Tristan Miller’s layup and free throw gave the Patriots a 60-47 cushion, Ishpeming senior Caden Luoma drained a 12-foot jump shot to make it 60-49.

Ishpeming High School boys basketball head coach Paige Yoho consoles a Hematites player after Westwood won an MHSAA Division 3 district tournament championship with their victory at the Patriots’ gym in Ishpeming on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Westwood responded with six unanswered points, gaining an insurmountable 66-49 advantage midway through the final period when junior Ethan Marta converted a putback into a five-foot jumper.

“We’ve been really good in the second half this year,” Westwood coach Luke Gray said. “Ishpeming gave us trouble in the second quarter. Their guys really stepped up. Our depth also stepped up, which was especially crucial in the second half.”

Westwood quickly gained the upper hand in the opening quarter, gaining a 21-8 advantage on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot by Marta.

Ishpeming, however, didn’t just go away.

The Hematites climbed within 28-24 on a layup by senior Ethan Corp with 2:43 remaining in the first half.

The Westwood High School boys basketball team celebrates winning an MHSAA Division 3 district tournament championship with a victory over Ishpeming at the Patriots’ gym in Ishpeming on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Westwood answered with a 6-0 run, extending its lead to 34-24 on a putback by Marta less than a minute before halftime.

Ishpeming then shaved its deficit back to 34-27 on a 3-point shot by Luoma 24 seconds before the intermission.

Westwood, which took a 35-27 advantage into halftime, extended its lead to 41-32 on a pair of free throws by Marta midway through the third quarter.

The Hematites continued to stay close, trailing 46-40 following a layup by Luoma late in the third.

A 20-foot jumper by senior Preston Argall gave the Patriots a 49-40 cushion before the Hematites came within seven points at the end of the third.

Marta finished with 28 points, Miller added 13 and senior Reid Frustaglio tallied 11.

“Both teams love to play defense and it came down to who wanted it more,” Marta said. “It was very important to come out and play hard and fast. That definitely set the tone for us and we played at the pace we wanted.

“We try to push the ball and play defense. We felt we matched up well, but knew they weren’t going to go away. This is a big rivalry.”

Luoma scored 25 points for the Hematites, who committed 14 turnovers.

“That’s to be expected,” Ishpeming coach Paige Yoho said. “A lot of teams throw different defenses at him. The slow start didn’t help us, although I’m proud of the effort.

“It was the Ethan Marta effect. He has the ability to take over a game. Our lack of depth hurt us. They wore us down.”

The Patriots committed just eight turnovers.

“That’s a good night for us, especially for how fast and physical the game was,” Gray said. “We try to play as physical as we can.”