Westwood’s Nathan Beckman goes up for a jump shot as Ishpeming’s Darius Yohe, second from left, and Hart Holmgren, right, defend in the fourth quarter of their Class C boys basketball district championship game played in Negaunee on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

By RYAN SPITZA

Journal Sports Writer

NEGAUNEE — If you made your way to watch basketball at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on Friday night, you saw everything a fan could ask for in a game.

The Westwood and Ishpeming boys’ basketball teams duked it out as any crosstown rivals would, especially with a district championship on the line.

The teams traded leads, the student sections traded cheers, and a dramatic buzzer-beater sent the crowd into a frenzy and the Patriots past the Hematites 54-53 to win the Class C title.

Westwood junior forward Blake Hewitt turned out to be the hero, draining a putback jumper as time expired to send his team into regional play at Marquette Senior High School against Iron Mountain (22-1) at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Westwood head coach Chad Hewitt said the thrilling finish was one of the best moments of his career.

“It’s March Madness,” he said. “This is one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been coaching basketball for the last 12 or 14 years and this may be the best ending to a basketball game that I’ve been a part of as a coach.”

Ishpeming head coach Anthony Katona said free throw shooting ultimately cost his team.

“We just didn’t finish the game,” he said. “(Westwood) converted late in the game on the free-throw line and we didn’t do the same.

“We could have ended the game with less than two minutes (to go) … had we converted on the free-throw line, but we just weren’t hitting our shots. Everything bounced their way at the end.”

The Hematites finished their season at 15-7, while the Patriots improved to 12-9.

Ishpeming opened the scoring on a bucket by senior forward Jaden Tucker. Northern Michigan University recruit and senior guard Hart Holmgren followed with a triple from the right corner to put the Hematites up 5-0.

Westwood responded with two buckets from junior guard Nathan Beckman, the second a triple to tie it 5-5. Not long after, the Patriots took their first lead 9-7 on another basket from Beckman, keeping a 16-13 advantage by the end of the quarter with the help of inside scoring.

WHS led for most of the second quarter, including 30-25 at halftime following a late triple from junior forward Jacob Adriano.

It was the second half that contained all the drama, particularly in the game’s final two minutes.

With 1:36 remaining, Holmgren made an “and-1” three-point play to put the Hematites up 53-46. The seven-point lead was the largest for either team.

Forced into committing fouls, the Patriots had to hope for things to fall their way. They did as the Hematites were sent to the line four times in the dying seconds and missed each try.

With 8.1 seconds remaining and the score 53-49, Westwood sophomore guard Taylor Dellangelo was fouled while shooting from behind the arc. Dellangelo sunk all three free throws to make it a one-point game.

The Patriots fouled right away, sending Holmgren to the line with 7.5 seconds left. Holmgren, known as a solid free-throw shooter, missed both.

Westwood scooped up the rebound. And that’s when time froze.

With 2 seconds to go, the ball went to Beckman in the right corner, but the Patriots’ best 3-point shooter missed off the rim.

That’s when Blake Hewitt picked up the rebound and put it in as time expired, making for a dramatic ending in front of a packed gym.

He described the final moment, but not before showing joy for himself and his teammates.

“It feels really good,” he said. “We worked all summer in the weight room and all the hours in the gym. It feels surreal to me. I’m happy for my teammates and I’m happy for everyone.

“It took a bad bounce off the rim, and luckily it just came my way, I got my hands on it and got a shot off.”

Beckman said he’s thankful for his teammates and Blake Hewitt for being there to bail him out on the final miss.

“I’m thankful,” he said. “I know my teammates are there for me and I know they’re pushing me every day in practice. Working every game, they’re in the spots I need them to be and they’re going to pick me up when I miss sometimes.”

Beckman and Dellangelo finished with 16 points apiece for Westwood, while Adriano had 10. Holmgren led Ishpeming with 24 while junior guard Gavin Sundberg added eight.

Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.