HANCOCK — Negaunee had just enough to hold off Hancock in a MHSAA Division 3 District 65 semifinal on Wednesday.

The Miners (11-2) scored a 53-48 win to advance to the district finals Friday at Calumet.

“It was a tough grinding game,” Negaunee coach Mike O’Donnell said afterward. “The kind of game we expected up here.”

Negaunee used some accurate free throw shooting down the stretch to advance.

The Miners were 19-or-28 from the free-throw line to seal the win.

“Free throw shooting is something we’ve been working on,” O’Donnell said. “It can make all the difference at this time of the season.”

The Bulldogs, in contrast, went to the line just eight times and made five.

Hancock coach Ward Helakoski said his team played hard.

“I can’t fault the effort, we just needed to make another shot or two at the end,” he said. “We couldn’t overcome the free throw difference, though.”

The Bulldogs grabbed a 13-12 lead after one quarter on a basket by Kami Klein.

But the Marquette County team jumped in front in the second period behind the play of  6-0 foot Allysa Hill for a 26-19 margin at the half.

Negaunee’s ace center picked up her fourth foul late in the frame, however. That slowed the NHS effort.

“(Hill) was the Mid Pen Conference Player of the Year,” O’Donnell said. “She hadn’t been in foul trouble all season, so it was kind of different for us.”

Hancock’s Bella Hebert, who totaled 19 points for the Bulldogs, helped make it interesting down the stretch. Kaisa Salani also two treys in the final quarter.

Hill led her team, with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Emilia Palomaki and Lilly Nelson each added 11 points.

The Bulldogs were paced by Hebert’s 19 points and 10 boards. with 11 more coming from Salani. Maari Brey added eight markers.

“I thought Bella was outstanding again,” Helakoski said, adding that senior Marina Kero played a fine defensive game.

NHS 12 14 14 13 — 53

HCHS 13 9 10 16 — 48

NEGAUNEE (53): Palomaki 11, Nelson 11 Hill 20, Dudo 5. Carlson 5. FT: 19-28. Rebounds: 25 (Hill 11). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Nelson 3, Dudo 1.

HANCOCK (48): Chynoweth 5, Hebert 19, Salani 11, Pietila 1, Driscoll 2, Brey 8, Klein 2.  FT: 5-8. Reblounds: 24 (Hebert 10). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Salani 3, Brey 2, Chynoweth 1, Hebert 1.

Baraga 57, LL-H 11

Rylie Koskinen’s 18 points paced the Vikings to a MHSAA Division 4 District 98 semifinal win on Wednesday. Corina Jahfetson scored 11 points and Allison Durant added seven.

Camryn Crouch led LL-H with four points.

Baraga faces Ontonagon at 7 p.m. today for the district championship.

Ontonagon 45, Chassell 34

Nicole Lukkari’s 20 points led Ontonagon to the other District 98 semifinal win. She scored 10 points in the third quarter.

Ella Menigoz scored eight points for the Gladiators. Teddy Menigoz and Kiirsa Kolpack each had seven points.

Trisha Pietila led Chassell with 11 points. Ally Etelamaki had 10 points.

The Gladiators had a 21-18 halftime lead.

Calumet 67, L’Anse 63

Elli Djerf and Marybeth Halonen scored 22 points each in Calumet’s win. Alexis Strom scored 10 points and Jana Loukus scored nine.

Calumet hosts Negaunee at 7 p.m. today for the MHSAA Division 3 District 65 championship.

The Copper Kings scored 28 points in the third quarter to dissolve an nine-point halftime deficit. Strom scored eight points in the quarter.

Taylor Sanregret led L’Anse with 24 points. Maija Rice scored 20 points.

L’Anse led 33-24 at halftime.