Trojans Kevin Giuliani (44), at right, and Dax Huuki (11) box out North Dickinson junior Spencer Kramer (24) on Tuesday in Flivver Gym during the MHSAA Division 4 regional semifinals. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — Every time Forest Park sophomore Vic Giuliani makes the trip to Kingsford, he elevates his game.

Last season, he capped a district title game with a two-handed dunk. On Tuesday, Giuliani poured in 26 points as the No. 1-ranked Trojans (23-2, 8-0) advanced to the MHSAA Division 4 Regional 25 final with a 51-34 win over No. 4-ranked North Dickinson (18-6, 5-3) in Flivver Gym.

“I knew it was going to be a dog fight, when you play a team three times,” Forest Park head coach Jason Price said. “Chris (Mattson) does a great job with his kids. We knew it was going to be a battle. You’re going to see a lot of defenses and they had No. 45, Richard Haney, step up. It’s always a scrappy game when we play North Dickinson. Every time.”

Although the Nordics kept things close through three quarters, they couldn’t overcome missing junior Ty King, who came down with an illness.

“First of all, I thought the entire season all of our kids fought, that’s how they play,” North Dickinson head coach Chris Mattson said. “They have a grit to them that I admire. They’re fun to coach. We went in a little shorthanded. We weathered the storm in the first quarter, they jumped on us early. But we came back and took the lead. They gave us another punch and we responded. Throughout three quarters, I thought it was a very competitive game. In the fourth quarter, their size started to wear on us.

“Vic Giuliani had a whale of a game. He’s the conference player of the year for a reason. He did a lot of things well for them.”

Forest Park came out swinging in the first quarter as the Giuliani brothers propelled it to a 5-0 advantage. Nordics’ senior Mason Anderson answered with a 3-pointer from the left corner on the next possession.

That sent the North Dickinson student section into a frenzy.

However, Trojans’ sophomore Dax Huuki immediately silenced the Maroon-clad fans with a straight-away three. He added another 3-pointer a few minutes later, pushing the lead to 13-5.

That was the last basket of the quarter for Forest Park. Over the next three minutes, the Nordics clawed back and cut the deficit to 13-11 entering the second.

“With Ty King out, we wanted to speed them up a little,” Price said. “It was a game of runs. The first half was fun to watch for the fans. … Tournament time is just one possession at a time. It’s hard for the boys, sometimes, to lock in. You’ve got to play offense and then you’ve got to play defense. And you’ve got to be locked in on both.”

With Forest Park focused on stopping North Dickinson juniors Brady Jungwirth and Spencer Kramer, Haney opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. Suddenly, the Nordics led 14-13.

“Richard Haney probably had his best practice on Monday and he stepped into the role and did a great job,” Mattson said. “He gave us a spark. He had seven critical points for us in the first half.”

Although Mattson knew what Haney was capable of, Price wasn’t.

“We knew we had to stop Spencer (Kramer) and (Brady) Jungwirth,” Price said. “Haney wasn’t in the game plan to stop, but he played well. We didn’t change much, it’s just come out here and play hard.

“We didn’t shoot that well, but the goal is to hold teams under 50 and that gives us a chance to win.”

Trailing for the first time all game, Vic Giuliani took control for the Trojans. He scored 12 points in three minutes, pushing Forest Park ahead 25-17.

“Vic was hot tonight,” Price said.

Jungwirth tried to keep things close, scoring five points in the second. However, the Nordics went into the locker room down 30-23.

Spencer Kramer and Jungwirth each notched a basket to kick off the third quarter, cutting the deficit to two points.

That was as close as the Nordics would get. Vic Giuliani and Huuki each connected on a three and the Trojans took a 38-30 advantage into the final frame.

Looking to close the door on North Dickinson’s season, Forest Park began to struggle with ball control in the fourth quarter.

“It just comes down to fundamentals,” Price said.

“I call it elementary basketball. Catching passes with two hands, coming to the pass, looking diagonal. It’s nothing fancy. We’ll work on it more.”

In the end, the lapse of concentration didn’t hurt the Trojans as they advanced to the regional final on Saturday. They will play the winner of today’s game against Bessemer and Dollar Bay at 12 p.m. Central time in Negaunee.

“They’re both really good teams,” Price said. “It’s too bad they couldn’t play (on Tuesday), but you can’t do anything about the weather. I don’t care who we play, I’m just glad we’re playing.”

Vic Giuliani’s 26 points led all scorers in the contest. He also recorded five reobunds, an assist, a block and four steals.

The Trojans dominated the glass with guards Gabe Quevedo and Huuki totaling 13 rebounds in the game.

“It’s huge,” Price said. “I put five keys on the board and rebounding was the third key. They did a great job of defensive rebounding down the stretch there.”

Forest Park also received contributions from Quevedo (3 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Isaiah Tarter (4 points, 2 assists, 1 steal), Huuki (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal), Matthew Showers (3 rebounds, 1 assist) and Kevin Giuliani (5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists).

Jungwirth led the Nordics with 15 points. He also recorded three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

North Dickinson also received contributions from Trenton Kramer (3 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Tyler Fleming (2 assists), Anderson (3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), Spencer Kramer (6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) and Haney (7 points, 1 rebound).

KNIGHTS 53, BADGERS 44

NIAGARA, Wis. — After posting an impressive 18-6 record in the regular season, the Niagara boys varsity basketball team earned a No. 2 seed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 5 Regional round.

However, Tuesday wasn’t the Badgers’ night as their season ended against Oshkosh Lourdes Academy with a 53-44 loss.

The loss means an end of the road for the five Niagara seniors — Alex Tripp, Gavin Neuens, Dante Stachowicz, Easton Holmes and Cameron Schiefelbein.

Junior Brayden Bartels led Niagara (18-7, 12-4) with seven points in the first half. Neuens added five and Holmes pitched in four. However, the Knights were locked in as well and they took a 23-22 advantage into halftime.

Lourdes Academy turned up the intensity on offense in the second half. It racked up 30 points, while holding the Badgers to 22 points in 18 minutes.

The win sends the Knights into the regional semifinals against the Eagles on Friday in Suring, Wis.

Bartels led Niagara with 15 points.

The Badgers also received contributions from Neuens (5 points), Stachowicz (10 points), Holmes (6 points), Schiefelbein (5 points) and Christian Anderson (3 points).