Mid Peninsua freshman Christian VanDamme attempts a 3-pointer against Engadine on Feb. 6, 2025 at Mid Peninsula School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ST. NICHOLAS — Turnovers and missed free throws were too much for Mid Peninsula boys basketball to overcome as they fell 44-43 to Engadine here Thursday. The Girls battled hard but fell 38-35 to the Eagles.

In the boys game, Engadine got on the board first as senior Jackson Davis drove through the lane for a layup.

The Wolverines responded with a 3-pointer from sophomore Jaykob Dahm to put the Wolverines up 3-2. After a Engadine layup, Mid Pen sophomore Cyler Brunngraeber knocked down a mid-range jumper to put the Wolverines back in front 5-4. Moments later Dahm connected again from downtown to extend the Wolverines lead to 8-4. Lewis Holmes added a layup and Dane Micheau knocked down the only two free throws of the night and the Wolverines led 12-6 after one stanza.

“The turnovers and missed free throws hurt us,” Micheau said. “We forced some things we didn’t have to force and those led to turnover and that was the difference tonight.”

Engadine freshman Coleman Loebach hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter. Moments later Loebach came up with a steal and drove quickly to the basket for a layup and the Eagles cut the deficit to 12-11.

Micheau responded with a layup to put the Wolverines up 14-11. After a pair of free throws by Engadine cut the deficit back to one. Dahm went hard to the basket for the layup and the lead was back to three.

Engadine junior Vern Loebach drove to the basket for a layup and Archer Nelson knocked down a mid-range jumper to put the Eagles up 17-16.

The lead continued to go back and forth and Brunngraeber knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Wolverines into the halftime break up 25-21.

Wolverines’ freshman Christian VanDamme knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Wolverines lead to 28-21.

The Eagles responded with a 10-0 run highlighted by a pair of layups by Coleman Loebach, who had 11 points in the game, and Engadine recaptured the lead at 31-28.

Micheau tied the game on a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Moments later, Engadine responded with a 3-pointer of its own by Davis to regain the lead. VanDamme then took the pass from Brunngraeber and knocked down his second 3-pointer to tie the game at 34.

“Our effort was excellent tonight,” Wolverines’ coach Carl Brunngraeber said. “It was one possession here, one possession there. We just have to keep working and getting better.”

The Eagles got the last two baskets of the third quarter to take a 38-34 lead into the fourth.

Micheau had seven of his 14 points in the fourth quarter including back-to-back layups to pull the Wolverines within one, but Mid Pen could not get over the hump.

In the girls game, the Wolverines’ improvements are becoming noticeable to coach Kristie Hemminger.

“We continue to make small gains every night out,” Hemminger said. “We have to close out on shooters better and get a hand in their face to make shots more difficult. Everyone stepped up at some point tonight. Whether it was on offense or defense everyone worked hard and gave it all they had.”

Engadine jumped out to an early 6-0 lead highlighted by a pair of layups by senior Hali Butkovich. After a Wolverines layup by eighth grader Kaia Branstrom, Eagles sophomore Ava Holcomb drove through the lane for a layup and the Eagles led 8-2.

The Eagles took a 8-6 lead into the second quarter. The Wolverines started the second on a 8-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer by Bethany Tourangeau and a nice mid-range jumper by Branstrom that put the Wolverines up 14-8.

“We knew coming into this game we had to be positive,” Branstrom said. “We have to look for people, play as a team and make smart plays.”

Engadine closed out the half with four free throws and the Wolverines led 14-12 at halftime.

Butkovich came out of the locker room and knocked down a pair of jumpers as Engadine recaptured the lead at 16-14. Abbigale Klee drove to the basket for a layup to tie the game for the Wolverines. Moments later, Branstrom hit a mid-range jumper to put the Wolverines back in front 18-16.

After a Eagles layup by Holcomb. Branstrom responded with a jumper to put the Wolverines up 20-18.

The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run including four points by senior Claire Oven to give the Eagles a 24-20 lead.

A pair of free throws by Klee and a huge 3-pointer by Deziray Casey gave the Wolverines a 25-24 lead going to the fourth quarter.

Oven scored 11 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter and back-to-back 3-pointers propelled the Eagles to the win.

The Wolverines return to action Tuesday as they host Big Bay de Noc in a varsity doubleheader.