March 19, 2026 — 10:02 PM EST
By Jeremy Symons
Game Details
Final: Ishpeming 37, Morenci 34
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Location: MSU Breslin Center — East Lansing, MI
Tournament: MHSAA Division 4 Girls Basketball Semifinal
They didn’t just win a semifinal.
They endured one.
...
What Ishpeming did over the last 48 hours isn’t normal.
Originally scheduled to play their quarterfinal in Gladstone, a blizzard forced a relocation to Gaylord. Then another delay pushed the game to Wednesday. The Hematites traveled Tuesday night, stayed in a hotel, woke up, and waited—hours—on a bus just to get into the gym.
Then they played.
And dominated.
A 60–22 win over Inland Lakes.
From there, it was back on the bus—Gaylord to East Lansing—another hotel, another turnaround.
And then Thursday night, under the lights at the Breslin Center, they were asked to do it again.
Against a tough, physical Morenci team.
...
A Slow Start — And a Familiar Feel
Morenci controlled the first quarter.
They rebounded everything.
They earned second chances.
They built a 12–6 lead.
Ishpeming looked exactly like what they were—a team coming off a long road, short rest, and heavy legs.
Jenessa Eagle kept them afloat early, scoring all six first-quarter points. But Morenci’s physicality—especially on the glass—set the tone.
At one point in the second quarter, Morenci had built a 14–3 rebounding advantage.
That’s how games like this get away from you.
...
The Shift
But it didn’t.
Because Ishpeming didn’t panic—they tightened.
Defense first.
Hands active.
Bodies in position.
Forcing turnovers.
Morenci finished the first half with 13 turnovers, and Ishpeming slowly started to climb back.
Not fast. Not flashy.
Just possession by possession.
Jenessa in the midrange.
Mya Hemmer working inside.
Second-effort plays.
By halftime, it was 20–18 Morenci.
A two-point game that felt completely different than how it started.
...
A Game That Turned Into a Fight
The third quarter wasn’t pretty.
It was physical.
It was emotional.
It was tight.
Mya battled inside every possession—rebounds, blocks, contested finishes.
Jenessa kept finding space where there wasn’t much, living in that 15-foot area.
Ishpeming still hadn’t hit a three.
At one point: 0–17 from beyond the arc.
Didn’t matter.
They stayed in it.
Late in the third, Morenci pushed back ahead, 27–23.
Then Jenessa answered—again—from the free throw line area.
End of the third: 27–25 Morenci.
...
The Moment
Early fourth quarter, Ishpeming tied it.
Then took the lead.
Then chaos hit.
A technical foul on Jenessa.
Two free throws.
Ball back to Morenci.
Tie game. Then Morenci back in front.
That’s the kind of moment that flips a semifinal.
But Ishpeming didn’t fold.
They responded.
Jenessa off a screen—midrange.
Then again—creating space, finishing at the rim.
Mya at the line—two free throws, 35–34 Ishpeming.
Then the play.
Under a minute left.
Jenessa draws the defense.
Finds Camby Gauthier on the left wing.
One dribble.
Right hand.
Finish.
37–34.
No hesitation.
A sophomore, in that moment.
...
Closing It
Final seconds.
Stops.
A jump ball.
A timeout.
And then the sound.
“UP POWER” echoing through the Breslin Center.
Morenci got a look.
Didn’t fall.
...
Final Thought
No threes.
Heavy legs.
Two games in two days.
Travel. Delays. Chaos.
Didn’t matter.
This was control.
This was composure.
This was a team that understands how to win when it’s not clean.
...
Next
One game left.
Ishpeming returns to the MHSAA Division 4 State Finals, scheduled for Saturday, March 21, where they’ll face Portland St. Patrick at the MSU Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Tip-off: 10:00 AM.
Fans can follow the tournament bracket here.
...
About the author
Jeremy “Syms” Symons is the founder of Roundballin, a Michigan-based designer, creative director, and storyteller documenting basketball through design, media, and culture.