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CALUMET -- An electric start propelled the Calumet Copper Kings to a 56-36 win against Gwinn in the MHSAA Division 3 District 65 opener on Monday.
The Kings scored 16 straight points to start the game and never looked back against Gwinn.
Calumet visits Westwood in the district semifinals at 6 p.m. today.
"The biggest thing was energy," said Calumet head coach Frank Bonacorsi. "We came out with energy right from the get-go and jumped on them right away."
Senior Dryden Nelson led the Kings with 17 points, and Kip Kangas scored 16.
"It was a great job with our seniors, especially the captains, Dryden and Kip, keeping their composure," explained Bonacorsi. "They scored a lot for us, then also created opportunities for their teammates."
The Kings stormed out of the gate scoring 16 unanswered points. The run ended with a Gwinn free throw with just under a minute left in the first quarter. Before the end of the period, the Modeltowners made a basket, and the Kings hit a three. Calumet had a substantial 19-3 lead heading into the second frame.
Gwinn stepped up their game in the second. The Modeltowners outscored the Kings 6-2 in the first four minutes of the quarter.
Halfway through the second, Calumet had a 21-9 advantage. Gwinn continued their strong play in the minutes before half scoring six points to Calumet's four. However, entering the break, the Kings still had a double-digit lead, 25-15.
The Modeltowners scored the first six points of the second half, making it a 25-21 game. Calumet went on a run of 13 to extend their advantage to 17, 38-21. Before the end of the third quarter, each team added four, and the Kings took a commanding 42-25 lead into the final frame.
At the halfway point of the fourth quarter, the Kings had control of the game with a 50-29 lead. Ahead by 21, Calumet was able to close the game out and punch their ticket to the district semi-finals with a 56-36 victory.