The Calumet girls basketball team is all smiles as they pose with the Division 3 District 65 trophy after defeating Westwood Friday in the Calumet gym. The Copper Kings are Mille Loukus, Kaitlynn Pennala, Bailey Strom, Chloe Coppo, Neva McParlan, Bethany McParlan, Cara Halonen, Rita Eskola, Maretta Kangas, and Kiirsi Johnson. Front row (from left): manager Abby Hampton, Kyla Strom, Jess Anderson, Linnea Pennala, Cali Hodges, and manager Ava Giachino. They are coached by Charlie Kemppainen. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

CALUMET — It was not always pretty, but the Calumet Copper Kings girls basketball team got the job done in the Division 3 District 65 title game over the Westwood Patriots Friday night at home. They won, 38-35.

“We did not play our best game,” said Copper Kings coach Charlie Kemppainen. “Both teams played very hard, and I am feeling very fortunate for us to come away with a win.”

The Copper Kings pushed out to an 11-7 win after one. Shots did not fall easily for the Copper Kings in the first two quarters. Despite that, they took a one-point lead, 19-18, into the locker room at half.

“Defense was going to be key if we wanted to win this one,” Kemppainen told his girls at half. “We played them at the beginning of the year and won, but this was playoff time.”

Defense in the third kept the Patriots (7-15) at bay. The Copper Kings (11-11) went on a 9-2 run and led 30-22 with eight minutes to play.

“I was hopeful that our lead going into the fourth would stand,” said Kemppainen. “It was a rough game. We had kids in foul trouble, and others stepped up. That included two of our starters with just a couple of minutes to go.”

Westwood got within four at 36-32 but could not catch their opponent.

The Patriots went to the foul line 23 times and sunk 14. The Copper Kings were 8-of-14 from the free throw line.

While Bailey Strom led the Copper Kings with 11 points, Kemppainen gave credit to his entire team for their efforts.

“The whole team gets the game ball,” he said. “A lot of people stepped up and made plays when they should have.”
For the Patriots. Addelyn Hallum had 11. Eliisa Doney poured in 12.

Up next

The Copper Kings move on to the Division 3 Region 17 semifinal where they will face the Menominee Maroons (17-6) Monday in Negaunee at 7 p.m.