Samsons lose Region 13 final

By JASON JUNO

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Ironwood --- Gogebic fell to United Tribes, which is seeking a second straight trip to the NJCAA Division II national tournament, 90-71 in Sunday afternoon's Region 13 championship game.

United Tribes took the early lead, 32-14 after the first quarter, and played from ahead all afternoon. GCC cut it to nine twice - 41-32, late in the first half, and 60-51 midway through the third quarter. But UT had an answer both times and was able to repeat as Region 13 champions.

After it was 60-51, United Tribes finished the third on a 12-2 run. After Annabelle Besonen's layup cut it to that score, Alionna Lawrence drilled a 3 on the next UT possession. She later got a steal and Myona Dauphinais got a layup on the break to get the lead back to 14, 65-51. Gogebic missed a layup on the following possession and Tyleigh Brady made one on the other end just seconds later.

"You miss a shot, you blink and they got three on the other end of the floor leaking out for a fast break," Gogebic coach Denver Sharrow said. "They're all very athletic. That's the style that they've played in the past, they like to get shots up and they like to run and gun. It's a huge challenge to keep up with that type of team.

"I think they had a few more girls that they got to rotate, a few fresher legs, got up and down a little bit better. Our girls just really hung in there, I thought, and played a hell of a game."

GCC's Kate Borseth scored 11 points in the first half, but United Tribes clamped down defensively on her in the second half and she ended up with 12.

"Kudos to them, their IQs, taking away obviously our best ballhandler and what makes our offense go," Sharrow said. "Kate battled her butt off, I couldn't have asked more from her, awesome game I thought from her."

United Tribes focused on slowing her down in the second half.

"She's extremely tough on the drives," UT coach Kelsey Peltier said. "We have to make sure when you're guarding the 3-point line, that you're anticipating the drive. We made an adjustment moving Myona on to her. We ask a lot of Myona, especially on offense, so it's really tough to put her on the best player on defense, but we made that adjustment and it seemed to work."

She was referring to Myona Dauphinais, a 5-7 sophomore guard who led all scorers with 33 points.

Players like her don't come around very often, Peltier said.

"She's the complete package," she said. "She can guard the best player, score at will, great 3-point shooter, leads our team in points per game with 19 and is right in second place in 3-point percentage in our league.

"She's won our program a lot of championships and got us to nationals last year."

Sharrow agreed.

"She can do it all," he said. "If you take her space on the 3-point line, she'll disregard a screen, take you to the rack. Toughest player I think we've seen all year. There's nothing she really can't do on the floor. Having a floor general, for them, is huge."

Tyleigh Brady and Alionna Lawrence both scored 19 points for United Tribes.

Kylee Hewitt led GCC with 19 points, she had 13 in the second half.

"It's so tough, especially with a lefty. Our post players are not used to guarding somebody to the left in the paint. It was really tough for them to adjust," Peltier said. "She's a great player, there's a reason that she scores double digits every game. She's just so efficient down low. Something that we really did well on was staying on the floor when she showed the basketball, we stayed on the ground, because she has a really nice up-and-under step through move that she's pretty good at."

Sharrow hates to have to say goodbye to Hewitt, a sophomore wing from Hurley.

"I would love to have her here again and again," Sharrow said. "Just a model type of player, does the right things, goes to all of her classes, gets great grades, great to everybody, great personality, and a tremendous competitor on the floor. We're very lucky to have her at GCC."

GCC also says goodbye to another sophomore, Hanna Hoskin.

Lilly Johnson scored 10 points for Gogebic.

The Samsons finished the season at 8-15.

United Tribes (13-16) hosts the district championship game against Iowa Western CC (30-2, Council Bluffs) with a chance to go to nationals again.

"It is a good game to host, fill your gym, get surrounded by your fans. It's a good opportunity for these girls," Peltier said. She told her team, "These are the types of games you play for all season long and you're finally right there. One more game to get through and you can get back to the big dance."

United Tribes --- Myona Dauphinais 33, Amara Martinson 2, Tyleigh Brady 19, Jenna Sanders 7, Alionna Lawrence 19, TeAnndra Pemberton 6, Sunni Belgrade 2, Kaydence Gourneau 2. FTs: 5-8. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Lawrence 3, Dauphinais 2, Pemberton 2, Sanders 1.

Gogebic --- Hanna Hoskin 6, Kate Borseth 12, Kylee Hewitt 19, Emmy Bobula 2, Annabelle Besonen 6, Kadence Beeksma 8, Lilly Johnson 10, Vanessa Weber 8. FTs: 7-8. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Hoskin 2, Beeksma 2, Johnson 2, Borseth 1, Hewitt 1.

UT 32 48 72 90

GCC 14 37 53 71