Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette The Hancock Bulldogs are all smiles after winning their MHSAA Division 4 District 98 championship game against the L'Anse Purple Hornet on Friday in L’Anse.

L’ANSE — Every coach says it, but whether it sinks in to his or her players is another story. The saying goes like this, “The post-season is a whole new season — anything can happen.”

On Friday in L’Anse, that new season pitted the hometown Purple Hornets against the visiting Hancock Bulldogs for a MHSAA Division 4 District 98 title game.

While both teams were 1-0 after winning their opening tournament games, the Bulldogs improved to 2-0 with a 47-45 win that came down to the last few minutes of the fourth.

The Bulldogs were down 41-35 with eight minutes to go, however, they chipped away at the deficit. It was down to a four-point deficit at the four-minute mark at 40-44 . Then it was tied at 45 courtesy of a Lydia Pelli triple with 2:24 to go.

While the Purple Hornets had their chances to score again, the Bulldogs shut them down and pushed ahead with game-winning free throws from Emery Chynoweth. She scored points 46 and 47 for the title. She led the scoring for the Bulldogs with 14.

“I told the girls going into the fourth to value every possession,” noted Bulldogs coach Ward Helakoski. “The girls stayed on them and got the win. I am so pleased for this team tonight. They work so hard.”

While he was certainly disappointed in his team’s loss, L’Anse coach Josh Eagle was not disappointed in the effort his girls put in on Friday and the whole season.

“I love districts and tournament basketball,” he said. This was a great basketball game. This is why I coach for games like this. My girls poured their hearts into this and I couldn’t be ore proud of them. We have turned a group of individuals at the beginning of the season into a selfless team as seen tonight.”

These two teams met less than a month ago, and L’Anse dominated that game winning 51-37 in Hancock.

The continued that domination on Friday as they were up 17-11 after one. Their trap press gave the Bulldogs a fit in the second, and they were able to keep a 27-24 lead at half.

In the third, the Bulldogs got within two at 31-33 but the Purple Hornets were able to make their shots and push ahead to a 41-35 lead into the final quarter.

Bulldogs’ junior Alice Larson credits senior leadership for the come-from-behind difference in the fourth.

She said, “We have a great group of seniors here who are cool under pressure. It is so fun to play with them.”

Even Eagle conceded that.

“I think our girls got a little skittish there at the end,” he said. “But that’s post-season basketball. This is how we learn and grow.”

Kwynn Voskuhl and Brooklyn Dompier both had 15 points for the Purple Hornets. Their season ended at 18-7.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs (17-7) will face the Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers on Monday in Houghton at 7 p.m. for a Division 4 Region 25 semifinal game.