Brad Sirard of Houghton shoots over Negaunee's Jake Skeets in Tuesday’s nonconference game in Houghton. The Gremlins scored a 44-43 win over the Miners. (Paul Peterson photo)

HOUGHTON — It was, in the words of Houghton boys basketball coach Jared Lawson, “a quality win over a quality opponent.” 

Lawson was alluding to his team’s 44-43 win over the Negaunee Miners Tuesday night.

“Any time you can beat a Mid Peninsula team, you’ve accomplished something,” the Gremlins coach said afterward. “I think it’s a real important win for us in terms of confidence for the rest of the season.”

To earn the victory, the Orange and Black had to sweat out the final 13 seconds of the contest when the ball was being contested for under the Houghton basket.

The Gremlins emerged with the ball after the scrum, securing their third win in six outings.

After battling from behind nearly the entire game, the Gremlins took a 42-40 lead with 48 seconds left when George Butvilas converted a steal into a driving layup.

After Negaunee misfired from the field, Elliot Majlessi was fouled with 24 seconds to go.

Majlessi converted both ends of the one-and-one situation for a 44-40 lead.

That was enough to counter a 3-pointer by Jason Waterman of Negaunee with 18 seconds remaining.

“Those two free throws by Elliot (Majlessi) were big,” Lawson noted. “That gave us a four-point cushion and you need that because of the threat of a 3-pointer.”

Coach Dan Waterman said his team seemed to relax a bit after a promising start.

“We scored 21 points in the first quarter and only 22 after that,” he said. “I don’t know what it was. They (Gremlins) seemed to want it a little more. But give Houghton credit, they played hard.”

Six points by Jackson Sager and two 3s from Jake Emmett in the opening quarter propelled the Miners to a 21-8 margin.

But nine points by Brad Sirard of Houghton in the second quarter helped reduce the lead to 26-21 by intermission.

Lawson said his team tried a different offensive approach in the final three quarters.

“Instead of attacking from outside, we used an inside-out style,” he said. “I thought our guys showed some good patience tonight.”

The third quarter saw the two teams battle back and forth. A 3-pointer by Sirard cut the margin to 33-30 by quarter’s end.

A 7-2 run midway through the final quarter was highlighted by a 3 from the top of the circle by Sirard for a 40-35 spread.

But a 3 from the corner from Emmett and a basket by Luke Skewis brought the Miners back.

Sirard, the 6-foot-5 sophomore, topped the victors with 20 points and also took down nine rebounds. Butvilas was next with 14 points and four assists, while Majlessi contributed four points and five assists.

Waterman paced the Miners with 15 points and four assists. Emmett added 12 points on four 3s.

Coach Waterman said his team was aware of Sirard’s outside shooting.

“He’s a real good player and he plays under control,” the Negaunee coach said. “Real tough to defend.”

Houghton will go to L’Anse on Monday.

The 4-3 Miners travel to Escanaba on Thursday.

– – –

Negaunee 21 5 7 8 – 43

Houghton 8 13 9 14 – 44

NEGAUNEE — Skewis 2, Sager 6, Emmett 12, Waterman 15, Mattson 4. DuShane 4. FT: 2-2; Rebounds: 29 (Emmett 9); Fouls: 12; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Emmett 4, Waterman 3.

HOUGHTON — Keskimaki 6, Majlessi 4, Sirard 20, Butvilas 14. FT: 5-7; Rebounds: 32 (Sirard 9); Fouls: 7, Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Sirard 3.