Baraga’s Mia Coronado (4) and Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Cleo Milkey battle for a rebound under the rim during a game Friday at the Lake Linden gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — The Baraga Vikings girls’ basketball team have won close to 50 games over the past two seasons and lost less than 10. Two of those losses have come from the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes. The second one was dealt Friday night as the Lakes slipped past the Vikings with a narrow 48-45 victory.

The game had all the elements of a tight final-four match up and not that of game two or three at the end of the first week of the season in December.

“I am extremely proud of these girls,” said Lakes coach Jack Kumpula. “They played well, not perfect, but a big win none the less.”

This was a back-and-forth battle from the start. The biggest lead of the game was when Baraga led 10-4 at around the midway point of the first. Otherwise, neither team led by more than four points throughout the remainder of the game.

The Vikings “won” the first two quarters with a 14-12 tally after one and a 26-23 lead at halftime. The second two quarters were won by the Lakes, and that is where it counted.

The Lakes outscored the Vikings 11-6 in the third, and the 14-13 in the final eight minutes.

Vikings coach Tyler Larson knew that this was going to be a challenge from the start.

“Lake Linden is a good team and basically the same team (we played) from last year,” he stated. “We knew we had a challenge and we were ready for it. I thought my girls played well, it’s just they played better.

“We fell short with some missed free throws and turnovers at the end.”

The Lakes added a press to start the third, and that caused Baraga some fits and some turnovers that the Lakes converted to points. With around two minutes left in the third, the Lakes finally caught up to the Vikings and tied it at 28. They then took their first lead of the game at 31-29. The Lakes led 34-32 headed into the fourth.

“I told the girls that we need to be stronger and quicker in the third,” said Kumpula. “I think they got the message because we were able to transition some of those turnover into baskets. That momentum carried into the fourth.”

Baraga was able to tie the game at 36, 37 and 42, but could not regain the lead as the clock wound down to 1:30 remaining. The Lakes sharpshooter, Emily Jokela, seemingly ended the game at the free throw line sinking four double-bonuses as Baraga was forced to foul to try win possession.

She and teammate Cleo Milkey led the scoring for the Lakes with 20 apiece.

“Emily is a tremendous athlete and while we put the pressure on her, she was unstoppable,” added Larson. “She and her teammates made the baskets when they needed to, and we did not.”

The Vikings had three girls in double figures. Kara Roberts led the scoring with 13 points. Makenna Hendrickson had 11 and Mia Coronado sunk 10.

UP NEXT

The Vikings will welcome the Chassell Panthers Monday night at home.

The Lakes will travel to Wakefield to face the Cardinals on Tuesday.