Niagara senior Tommy Martin (11) soars above Oneida Nation’s Miko Leroy (13) and Daniel Gutierrez (22) for a jump shot on Thursday in Niagara, Wis. (Terry Raiche photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — Entering Thursday’s contest, the Niagara boys varsity team had won four games in a row and held the No. 1 spot in the Marinette & Oconto Conference.

The only thing that changed for the Badgers (9-2, 7-0) was the length of its win streak as they held on for a 44-34 M&O Conference win over Oneida Nation (4-8, 2-5) in Niagara, Wis.

“Well, this is what happens after you come off of a big win,” Niagara head coach Terry Youren said. “The kids kind of went into a lull and we played like we weren’t ready to play. That’s unfortunate, but they’re kids and that’s what happens.

“One nice thing is they don’t ask you what it looked like as long as you got a ‘W.'”

The Badgers toppled Crivitz on Monday which put them in first play in their conference.

“It feels great,” Niagara senior Cameron Schiefelbein said. “We’ve all been playing together since third grade, all together. We’re doing great out there.”

Although there is pressure associated with leading the conference, Youren and the team are focused on remaining positive.

“We set goals at the beginning of the season and hopefully, we can meet those goals,” Youren said. “With a positive attitude and keeping our heads high, good things will happen.”

Although it is exam week in Niagara, Schiefelbein felt the Badgers overlooked Oneida Nation.

“I think we just took it too easy and thought they weren’t that good of a team,” Schiefelbein said. “But, they put up a fight.”

Niagara opened a 6-5 lead over Oneida Nation early in the first half. Then the Thunderhawks slowed down the pace with their half-court offense.

“We just got used to it and I fed my teammates, we got easy buckets,” Schiefelbein said.

Oneida Nation took a lead 11 minutes into the first half, but a steal from Alex Tripp turned into a Tommy Martin layup on the other end.

That put the Badgers ahead, 10-8, and they didn’t look back.

The Thunderhawks made a 3-pointer late in the first half, cutting the lead to four points. They went into halftime trailing 19-15.

In the second half, Niagara’s defense turned up the pressure resulting in multiple steals turning into layups.

“That was a big deal,” Youren said. “We made a little bit of a switch there and that changed things quickly. All of the sudden, we started to spread the score out. There were a lot of positives, but did we play to our potential? We weren’t even close.”

Three minutes into the frame, the Badgers’ lead was back up to six points. At the midway point in the half, their lead was up to 15 points.

The Thunderhawks battled down the stretch but Niagara’s lead was too much to overcome. Schiefelbein had eight points in the second half while Martin added seven and Gavin Neuens scored six.

Oneida Nation made three 3-pointers in the contest while the Badgers didn’t make any. However, they won the free throw battle ending the game 6 for 9.

Lately, Schiefelbein has come into his own on the offensive end. He led the way on Thursday with 17 points.

“I’ve had good communication with all of my teammates and I’ve just been putting (shots) down,” Schiefelbein said.

The Badgers also received contributions from Tripp (2 points), Neuens (10 points), Martin (9 points) and Dante Stachowicz (6 points).

Niagara welcomes Florence to town on Monday.

“I want us to play with a little bit more energy,” Youren said.

MOUNTAINEERS 68, EMERALDS 30

MANISTIQUE — After picking up a thrilling overtime win earlier in the week, the Iron Mountain boys varsity basketball team could have experienced a letdown on Thursday as it went to Manistique.

However, the Mountaineers (9-2, 3-1) didn’t miss a step and easily dispatched the Emeralds (2-8), 68-30.

Senior Oskar Kangas caught fire in the first quarter for Iron Mountain. He scored 13 points in the frame, and Manistique fell behind 20-7 entering the second.

The Mountaineers leaned on senior Evan Copley in the second quarter. He scored 11 points in the frame and they led 38-14 at the halftime break.

Iron Mountain held the Emeralds to two points in the third quarter. Kangas poured in 10 points over the eight minutes, and the game was essentially over.

Kangas led all scorers in the contest with 27 points.

The Mountaineers also received contributions from Gerald Sampoll-Torres (4 points), Ian Marttila (9 points), Copley (14 points), Brayden Kassin (9 points), Charles Baldridge (4 points) and Charles Anderson (1 point).

Iron Mountain returns to Mountaineer Gym on Tuesday against Negaunee.

KNIGHTS 94, BOBCATS 50

FLORENCE, Wis. — When a team hits 12 3-pointers in a game, they’re usually going to win, and that was the case on Thursday as the Norway boys varsity basketball team (9-3, 2-1) took its talents to Florence, Wis. to face the Bobcats.

The Knights’ two players–Mason Trudeau and Bryce Adams–scored 20 points and rolled to a 94-50 win over Florence (2-5, 0-3).

Norway made nine 3-pointers in the first half, taking a 56-32 lead into halftime.

The Bobcats struggled to score in the second half, and the Knights connected on three 3-pointers. Norway outscored Florence 38-18 in the final half.

Trudeau and Adams led all scorers with 20 points apiece.

The Knights also received contributions from AJ Gallino (18 points), Cole Baij (16 points), Elliott Kraemer (13 points) and Kaleb LaPine (7 points).

Truth Setner led the Bobcats with 17 points.

Florence also received contributions from Carson Chrisman (10 points), Bradly Steber (12 points), Mason Koski (7 points), Jack Kester (2 points) and Carter Reed (2 points).

The Bobcats head to Niagara, Wis., on Monday, while the Knights are headed to Bark River to face the Broncos.

TROJANS 78, WYKONS 40

CRYSTAL FALLS — From the opening tip, the Forest Park boys varsity basketball team was rolling on Thursday as it welcomed West Iron County to Crystal Falls.

The Trojans (11-1, 2-0) built a 23-point lead in the first quarter and breezed to a 78-40 win over the Wykons (0-12, 0-6).

Despite falling, West Iron went 4 for 8 from behind the 3-point line.

Forest Park racked up 35 points in the first quarter. It held the Wykons to 12 during that span.

West Iron outscored the Trojans 13-10 in the second quarter. However, that was the last time it would break 10 points in a quarter.

Forest Park netted 33 points in the final two frames to secure the win.

Junior Vic Giuliani led all scorers in the contest with 22 points. He also recorded seven assists, four rebounds and five steals.

The Trojans also received contributions from Noah Starr (2 points, 1 steal), Dietrich Rasner (1 rebound), Gabe Quevedo (9 points, 8 assists, 1 rebound, 6 steals), Trent Kannich (2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist), Matthew Showers (7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist), Aiden Waldo (20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) and Kevin Giuliani (16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals).

West Iron’s at home against Gwinn on Monday, while Forest Park heads to Felch Township on Tuesday to face the Nordics.