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Calumet routs Baraga

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Calumet’s Matt Ojala attempts a layup against Baraga during a game Tuesday at the Baraga Gym.

BARAGA — It only took the Calumet Copper Kings 20 seconds to put two points on the board Wednesday night against the Baraga Vikings. The Vikings needed close to five minutes to score. The discrepancy was the story of the game as Calumet routed Baraga, 74-30.

“Hats off to Calumet,” said Baraga coach Chris Loonsfoot. “They’re an aggressive bunch of players. We, on the other hand, are a very young team made up of sophomores and juniors. We are in a transition year.”

With 2:28 left in the first quarter, the score was already 21-3 in favor of Calumet. The combination of Matt Ojala, Travis Ojala and Eli McParlan proved especially deadly. The trio manhandled Baraga’s guards with traps and double teams and then raced down the court for easy layup after layup.

In short, Calumet’s in-your-face defense led to numerous turnovers and a 45-14 lead at half.

Baraga came out on the third with a little more zip in their step as they dumped in a couple of points in the paint. However that was about all they could muster as Calumet’s starting five and bench players combined to shut them down en route to the 44-point victory margin.

“We need to work on passing and shoot the ball when we are open,” said Loonsfoot.

Calumet head coach Mike Ojala was pleased with not only how his starters performed but also his players off the bench.

“We have quality kids there that work hard for us during the week,” he said. “And that is why we saw everybody in the scoring column tonight.”

Matt Ojala led the scoring for Calumet with 23 points, Travis Ojala followed with 14 and Eli McParlan poured in 11 points.

For the Vikings, Steele Jondreau led the scoring with 13 points.

Calumet will face Houghton on Thursday.

Calumet 26 19 17 12 – 74

Baraga 4 10 9 7 – 40

CLK: Bra. Antilla 5, Haapala 2, M. Ojala 23, Bre. Antilla 8, T. Ojala 14, McParlan 11, Twardzik 3, Torola 5, Isaacson 2, Ekdahl 1; Fouls: 11; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Bre. Antilla 2, Bra. Antilla 1, M. Ojala 1, T. Ojala 1

BAR: Connor 2, S. Jondreau 13, Koskinen 3, Rasanaen 4, W. Jondreau 4, Owens 4; Fouls: 16; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: S. Jondreau 4, Koskinen 1

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