They faced the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans in Division 4 Disctrict 99 semifinal play and won, 44-36.

While Baraga led for the majority of the game, they never led by more than 10 points. The girls had to work for the victory.

“We had a slow start shooting, and give them (Forest Park) credit, as they came to play and controlled the tempo as they hit their shots,” said Vikings coach Tyler Larson. “But we weathered the storm and made the clutch plays when we had to.”

The Vikings are no strangers to high-pressure games, and that seemed to played a role as this became a two-point game at 36-34 with less than four minutes to go.

Baraga coach Tyler Larson maps out the plan during a Division 4 District 98 semifinal game against Crystal Falls Forest Park Wednesday at the Baraga Gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

“I wasn’t worried,” Larson said, “but I told the girls that they needed to take care of the basketball and don’t force anything.”

His plan worked as a two-point lead returned to a six-point lead and an eventual eight-point victory.

The Vikings (19-4) pushed out to an 11-6 lead after the first eight minutes. Back-to back 3-pointers by Baraga’s Kara Roberts opened the second quarter, and the Vikings found themselves up 10, 17-7. However, the Trojans played their strongest period in the second and came within four at half, 21-17.

Nothing changed in the point spread in the third as both teams scored nine. While the Trojans (8-15) creeped within two points twice in the fourth, they just could not catch up to the Vikings to tie or to take a lead.

Baraga was led in scoring by Roberts with 17. This included four of her team’s six triples. Kinsei Jahfetson followed with 10.

“Both those girls were key in this one,” said Larson. “Jahfetson played very well underneath the rim, and Kara made some big shots early one to help us establish a lead. Her shooting was fantastic.”

For the Trojans, Vienna Price and Elsie Williams led the scoring with 12 each.

UP NEXT

The Vikings will face Ishpeming Friday at 6 p.m. in Baraga for the Division 4 District 99 title. The Hematites have just one loss (22-1) this season, and are the team to beat in U.P. Division 4 girls basketball.

“The pressure is on them,” said Larson. “It is there’s to lose. We will play our game and hopefully do better against them than we did the first time we met.”