Houghton’s Bryce Pugh (23) goes in for a lay up while Westwood’s Jacob Bazinette tries to stop him on Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Houghton, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — For the second time in three nights, the Houghton Gremlins boys’ basketball team put their coaches and fans into cardiac arrest due their late-game antics.

Down 59-67 against the Westwood Patriots (15-4) and with just 1:20 left on the clock, the Gremlins pulled off a 72-71 win. How did they do it? The Houghton squad h three-pointers and free throws when they needed them.

“We’d been struggling with free throws all season,” said Gremlins’ head coach Jared Lawson. “However, they’ve recently been putting in time on their own shooting free throws and it paid off tonight.”

On Wednesday, they downed the Jeffers Jets 60-56 after being tied at 56 with less than a minute to go.

The Gremlins were 13-19 from the charity stripe while the Patriots were a mere 10-25. In fact, it was a Houghton free throw that won this one. With just seconds on the clock, Houghton’s Kyle Primeau sunk one of two to tie the game at 71. Then it was up to Mikko Salmi to either end the regular season or push this one into overtime. He ended it by sinking the second of his two free shots.

Lawson noted that a lot of what is working well during his squad’s last few games has been fundamentals. It’s something he’s preached since the start of practices.

“These guys have the green light to shoot, and we do not have one guy trying to show off,” he said. “They are playing so well together and gelling at just the right time.”

Thursday’s game was senior night for the Gremlins. Seojun Yoon, Brandon Kieranen, Tucker Ryynanen, Dylan Primeau and Tanner Guidas will all graduate this spring. Appropriately, Lawson had these five start the game, and they did not disappoint.

“For them to push us out to a 12-3 lead against a top-five school in the first for minutes was incredible,” he said. “They were dialed in and composed.”

The Gremlins pulled into the first quarter with an 18-12 tilt. The second quarter was much the same as the Gremlins secured a 31-24 lead at halftime. In the third, the Gremlins marked their biggest lead of the night at 42-27. Their ball movement was crisp, and their rebounding was strong. Momentum was on their side until the fourth.

It was 50-41 to start the fourth, but the Patriots mounted an eight-point unanswered run that put them within two. They soon took a 54-53 lead. Thanks to some poor shooting by Houghton and turnovers the score morphed into a 67-59 Westwood lead with less than two minutes to play. Then came some Houghton heroics.

First came a long three by Guidas to get the crowd going. Then came back-to-back threes from deep by Isaiah Lawson and the Gremlins were within two and had the wind back in their sails. Three free throws later victory was theirs.

The Gremlins had four players in double figures. They included Salmi with five triples and 20 points. Next came Lawson with 16. Ryynanen sunk 12 while Guidas poured in 11.

Despite the loss, Westwood head coach Luke Gray said it was a great game to end the season on.

“Tonight had the feel of a playoff atmosphere,” he said. “Hats off to Houghton. They are in a good spot headed into districts. Better for us to lose this week than next.”

Houghton visits Kingsford on Monday in the MHSAA Division 2 District 33 tournament.

WHS 12 12 18 29 — 71

HHS 18 13 19 22 — 72

WESTWOOD (71): Carlson 24, Boase 3, Beckman 24, Sundberg 18, Karki 2. 3PT: Carlson 5, Beckman 2, Sundberg 3. FT: 10-25.

HOUGHTON (72): Lawson 16, Yoon 2, K. Primeau 7, Salmi 20, Ryynanen 12, D. Primeau 4, Guidas 11. 3PT: Lawson 3, Ryynanen 2, Salmi 5, Guidas 1. FT: 13-19.