ONTONAGON — According to coach Brittany Turin- Jilbert, her Ontonagon Gladiators boys basketball team dug a deep hole early in their game against the Ironwood Red Devils on Friday and could not get out of it. That deep hole led to a 69-57 loss.

“We just buried ourselves in a hole early on in this one, and could not escape,” she said.

The Red Devils were up 19-11 after one quarter and led 44-31 at half.

“They hurt us inside initially and then converting from the charity stripe,” she added. “Ironwood is one of the best free throw shooting teams we’ve played and they proved it tonight.”

The Red Devils shot 70 percent from the free throw line making 18 of 26 shots.

The Gladiators (7-13) best eight minutes was the third period where they outscored the Red Devils by three 17-14, however it could not make up for that big first-quarter deficit.

“Once we finally got our offense going, we were able to get within 10 (points) multiple times, but could never break that barrier,” summed up Turin-Jilbert.

Ontonagon was led in scoring by Bryce Buzzo with 21. Jack Nelson had 18.

The Red Devils had three players in double figures. Cody Dabb and Rukus Betlewski both had 18 points. Aiden Boyd sunck 11.

Up next

Ontonagon heads to Baraga on Tuesday.

Scoring

IHS 19 25 14 11 – 69

ONT 11 20 17 9 – 57

IHS – Bissell 6, Routsala 5, Miscovich 4, Dabb 18, A. Boyd 11, L. Boyd 3, Betlewski 18, Buerger 4.

ONT – Buzzo 21, Nelson 13, Majurin 4, Uotila 6, Petska 3, Kolpack 9, Graff 1.