The Dollar Bay-Tamarack City boys team showed that in an impressive 66-57 Division 4 district seminfinal win over the Jeffers Jets Wednesday night at a packed JHS Gymnasium.

“I think playing in the postseason the past two seasons has really benefitted us,” Bolts’ coach Jesse Kentala said afterward. “It showed us that we have to play harder at this time of the year. And we showed a lot more energy than we’ve had the last couple of games.”

Upset just ten days ago by the scrappy Jets, the Blue Bolts (19-2) had their hands full again last night.

Trailing by a point after three quarters, the Blue and White needed a 22-12 advantage in the final eight minutes to advance to the district finals on Friday against Chassell in Painesdale.

Jeffers' Christian Hocking (34) rebounds in front of Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Connor LeClaire (13) during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

“We couldn’t match their intensity at the end,” Jets’ head coach Trent Keteri said. “The kids played hard, but we’re a young team and they’re an experienced team that has been there before.”

As they have all season, senior forward Ashton Janke and junior point guard Davin Hill keyed last night’s DB-TC win.

The 6-foot-5 Janke dumped in 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He also reached 1,000 career points.

Hill, the slick ballhandling point, returned to form with a game-high 21 points. He also handed out seven assists.

“We rely on those two guys to lead us,” Kentala said. “They came through tonight in a big way tonight on both ends of the court.”

Jeffers' Isaiah Frahm (20) looks to pass as Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Brady Myllyoja (12) defends during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

The Jets (14-7) made it tough on the two-time regional champions behind the play of sophomores Isaiah Frahm and John Schutz and junior Christian Hocking.

It was a last-second hoop by the 6-5 Hocking that had the Jets fans on their feet with a 45-44 lead with a perod left.

But Janke’s five points and a triple from the corner by Conner LeClaire shoved the Bolts into a 52-47 lead early in the final frame. That kept them from having to look backward.

Hill made sure the lead was safe by sinking three free throws and passing off neatly for layups by AJ Datto and Brad Myllyoja in the closing minutes.

Keteri said his team played as hard as they could against the defending Copper Country Conference Copper Division champs.

Jeffers' Christian Hocking (34) shoots over Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Brady Myllyoja (12), Connor LeClaire (13) and Ashton Janke (11) during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

“We played basically with just one senior and four underclassmen this season,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a definite upside for this group of kids.”

In addition to the big games from Janke and Hill, the winners received 13 points from the hard-working LeClaire. Datto notched seven more points for the 19-2 Bolts.

Frahm turned in a fine all-around game for the Range boys with 17 points, four assists and three steals.

“He (Frahm) has really picked up his game in the second half of the season,” Keteri said.

Hocking was next with 15 points and 10 boards, while Schutz put in 12 points.

Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Ashton Janke (11) battles for a rebound in front of Jeffers' Christian Hocking (34) during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Kentala said that Chassell will present another challenge in the finals.

Dollar Bay 15 20 9 22 — 66

Jeffers 15 13 17 12 — 57

DOLLAR BAY (66): Hill 21, Datto 7, Janke 20, LeClaire 13, Myllyoja 5. FT: 20-28. Rebounds: 30 (Janke 14). F: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Hill 3, Janke 1, Datto 1. Myllyoja 1.

JEFFERS (57): Kinnunen 7, Schutz 12, Hocking 15, Frahm 17, Heinonen 5, Mattila 1. FT: 6-9. Rebounds: 24 (Hocking 10). F: 18. Fouled out: Schutz. 3-point FG. (Frahm 2, Schutz 2, Heinonen 1, Kinnunen 1, Hocking 1.

E-TC 55, Ontonagon 45

Jeffers' Isaiah Frahm (20) dribbles while being defended by Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Brady Myllyoja (12) during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

ONTONAGON — The Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers took down Ontonagon in a Division 4 District 97 semifinal 55-45 on Wednesday.

The Panthers advance to the district championship against Bessemer. Both teams are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Friday at Ontonagon High School.

Jaden Borseth strong-armed the Gladiators by leading E-TC with 35 points.

Ewen-Trout Creek had a 26-19 halftime lead.

Ontonagon fought tooth-and-nail against the Panthers despite missing Austin Walters (illness) and held a narrow lead in the fourth quarter.

Then Borseth came on strong, scoring 14 points in the fourth, including 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.

“We really came out well the second half and we’re up by one and a point in the fourth, but missed shots and some turnovers led to baskets and freethrows for the panthers,” Ontonagon head coach Brittany Turin-Jilbert said. “Cold shooting has hurt us all this week so the fact that we won a game this week and competed tonight shows how hard the kids were working.

Ontonagon was without Austin Walters (illness).

E-TC 18 8 10 19 — 55

Ontonagon 11 8 16 10 — 45

EWEN-TROUT CREEK (55): J. Borseth 35, Abramson 8, Jilek 7, C. Borseth 3, Polkky 2. FT: 15-17. F: 8. 3-point FG: J. Borseth 3, Abramson 2, C. Borseth 1.

ONTONAGON (45): Latvis 13, Soumis 11, Laingren 8, Preiss 6, Strasser 4, LaBine 3. FT: 5-6. F: 17. 3-point FG: Preiss 2, Soumis 1, LaBine 1.

Jeffers' Christian Hocking (34) shoots while being defended by Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Ashton Janke (11) during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Ashton Janke (11) shoots a free throw against Jeffers during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Ashton Janke (11) puts up a shot against Jeffers during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Jeffers' Christian Hocking (34) battles Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Ashton Janke (11) for a rebound during an MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Painesdale, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)