Rapid River sophomore Lane Olson attempts a 3-pointer against North Dickinson in a Division 4 district final game on Feb. 28, 2025 at Big Bay de Noc School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GARDEN CORNERS — 17 years of hopes and dreams for a community were met as North Dickinson boys basketball claimed its first district title since 2007 as it defeated Rapid River 79-47 in a Division 4 District Final matchup here Friday at Big Bay de Noc School.

“We set some goals out for our team at the start of the season,” Nordics’ coach Chris Mattson said. “One of those goals was to win a district championship. We have put in a lot of hard work and the kids dedicated themselves to the program and I’m very happy for the community to embrace this and to see half the school here to support us means a lot to us.”

The Nordics jumped out to a 6-0 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by junior Brady Jungwirth.

“We wanted to come into the game shooting well,” Jungwirth said. “We knew we had to rebound and I feel we shot better in warmups tonight than we did on Wednesday.”

With the Nordics leading 10-2, Rockets sophomore Rowen Flath drove to the basket for a layup. Moments later Flath connected from downtown and the Rockets cut the deficit to 10-7.

In the second quarter Nordics sophomore Trenton Kramer had 12 of his 23 points in the game and the Nordics led 39-22 at halftime.

“I felt good down low,” Kramer said. “Felt like I could keep going up with it, they weren’t going to stop me. We like to push the ball and move fast and find the open lanes to the basket.”

The Rockets came out of the halftime break on a 4-0 run with baskets by Lane Olson and Flath to cut the deficit to 13.

The Nordics answered as Kramer drove through the lane for a layup and the foul. Kramer converted on the free throw to put the Nordics up 42-26.

The Rockets cut the deficit back to 13 on a layup by Eddie Forslund and that is as close as they would get as the Nordics answered with a 16-1 run highlighted by a trio of 3-pointers including six points off the bench from Jason Graham to extend the Nordics lead to 58-30.

“You have to give credit to North Dickinson,” Rockets coach Brent Lundquist said. “They are a phenomenal team and great kids. I’m proud of our guys though. We knew we were underdogs coming, in but they fought hard and never gave up.”

The Rockets were led by Forslund with 12 points. Flath had 11 and senior Ethan Harrison had five.

“The connection I have with Eddie is something I will never have with anyone else,” Harrison said. “I know where he is on the floor at all times and we both know what we are going to do every play.”

The Nordics were led by Kramer with 23 points. Spencer Kramer added 17 and Jungwirth had 16.

North Dickinson will face Forest Park on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Kingsford.

Box score

Rapid River 7 15 10 15 — 47

North Dickinson 14 25 21 19 — 79

Rapid River — Poma 6, B. Kee 3, Olson 8, Flath 11, Thorbahn 2, Forslund 12, Harrison 5. FT: 4-8; F: 9; Fouled Out; None; 3-pointers: Flath 2, Poma 2, Forslund 2, B. Kee 1, Harrison 1.

North Dickinson — Steinbrecher 2, T. Kramer 23, Fleming 5, Jungwirth 16, Lindholm 2, Anderson 2, S. Kramer 17, Madigan 2, Haney 4, Graham 6. FT: 5-7; F: 12; Fouled Out None; Technicals: S. Kramer; 3-pointers: Jungwirth 4, S. Kramer 2, Fleming, Graham 1.