Baraga Vikings coach Tyler Larson gives his daughter Jaycee Larson a big hug as she comes off the court in the last minute of the Vikings’ loss on Friday to Ishpeming in the Division 4 District 99 championship game at the Baraga Gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

BARAGA — The Ishpeming Hematites girls basketball team joined an elite club on Friday. They became one of just a handful of teams that have beat the Baraga girls team over the past few years. Not only did they down the Vikings 63-31, but they earned themselves the Division 4 District 99 title in the process.

At 23-1, the Hematites are a top-ranked team in the state, and, in the eyes of their coach Ryan Reichel, they showed why on Friday.

“The saying goes that you want to be playing your best basketball in March, and we are peaking at the right time,” he said. “Tonight is one of the best team-played games we have had all season.”

The key to victory was a strong start that equated to a quick 10-point lead in the opening minutes of the game at 13-3.

“We came out made our shots, and that set the tone,” said Reichel. “We were then able to build a gap and keep the pressure on them.”

A 21-7 lead by the Ishpeming five after one turned into a 34-12 lead at halftime.

“We just could not make our shots,” said Baraga coach Tyler Larson. “They were there but in the end we were 12-of-61 shots (20%) from the floor. They were closer to 40 percent. There is your game.”

The Vikings broke double-digit scoring in the third with 12 points, but the Hematites countered with 18. In the fourth, they outpaced the Vikings 11-7 to clinch a 32-point win.

Reichel liked the way his bench played.

“We have a deep bench, and they did well for us tonight,” he said.

This included four Hematites in double figures. Mya Hemmer led the scoring with 16. Jenessa Eagle followed with 13 and Peyton Kakkuri and Addison Morton both sunk 10.

Kinsei Jahfetson led the scoring for the Vikings with just seven.

Despite the loss, and a third trip, in as many years, to the Final Four derailed, Larson was thankful for a tremendous season.

“We had a great year,” he said. “We were 19-5, won the conference (Copper Mountain) and were knocked out by the eventual-state champs (in my opinion) for the third year in a row. That is good company to be in.”

Would Larson and his squad like to be the winners and not the tag-along date?

“Of course,” he said. “We will get there. We have a lot to hang our hat on. Our future is bright with a lot of talent coming up. These girls have continued to lay the foundation for our top-notch program, and I am so grateful for that.”

UP NEXT

The Hematities will take on Carney-Nadeau for the Region 25 semifinals in Kingsford Monday at 6 p.m.