Ontonagon's Jack Nelson lines up a free throw during a game against Lake Linden-Hubbell Tuesday in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — For the second time in a week, the Ontonagon Gladiators boys basketball team defeated the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes. Their first win (62-57) came on Jan. 6. Tuesday, they did it again with a score of 66-60. In short the Lakes (4-7) were “close, but no cigar.”

Lakes coach Brett Poissant said that a slow start to the open the game did his team no favors.

“We dug a hole with flat feet and not a lot of energy, and we are not good enough offensively to get out of that hole,” he said.

The Gladiators pushed out to a 13-9 lead in the first four minutes and made it a 20-9 game after one.

They outscored the Lakes 11-3 to open the second and had a 37-21 advantage at the half.

Poissant was pleased with his squad’s second-half effort. In short, they seemed to come alive.

They outscored the Gladiators 23-17 in the third and 16-12 in the fourth. While they got within six points at 50-56 with around six minutes to go in the game, that is as close as they got.

“They (Ontonagon) did a lot of little things better than us,” Poissant added. “This is a good learning experience for us.”

Gladiators coach Ethen Mapes credits good defense and strong rebounding with the victory. The Lakes were often limited to one shot as they were outhustled on the boards.

“We contained them with excellent defense,” said Mapes. “We executed very well as a team.”

The Gladiators’ (5-5) offense was not too shabby as well. Mason Pestka led the boys in Maroon with 28 points, and in the eyes of his coach, earned the game ball.

“Mason has been struggling for a couple of games now, but tonight he was feeling it,” said Mapes. “He shot the ball extremely well.”

He was followed by Kyle Nelson with 12. Both Jack Nelson and Ryan Holmstrom had 11 points.

For the Lakes, Josh Daavettila had 22 points. Blake Lebo and Bodie Fortin both had 14.

Up next

The Gladiators will face the Baraga Vikings on Thursday in Baraga. The Lakes will travel to Bessemer on Friday to take on the Speedboys.