Fire on the Mountain

Iron Mountain’s Foster Wonders scored 28 in the Division 3 semifinal.

Iron Mountain’s conquest of the mainland continued right through the heart of the Mitten. After beating Sanford Meridian Tuesday in Petoskey, the undefeated Mountaineers beat defending state champion Detroit Edison 60-57 in the Division 3 semifinals at Michigan State. 6-5 sophomore Foster Wonders scored 28 for Iron Mountain, which received a pep talk the night before by an even more famous Iron Mountain native.

“Coach Izzo told us — some like it, some love it and some live it,” Iron Mountain junior guard Marcus Johnson said. “And we want to live it.”

Wonders showed his championship bonafides being patient, attacking when he saw his spots, a reliable outlet against Edison’s pressure. He found his three-point range in the second half, including an NBA range bomb in the fourth quarter.

“Shooters shoot, bakers bake and makers make, and we have some makers,” Mountaineers coach Bucky Johnson said. “We may argue every once in awhile, but I don’t second-guess our guys’ shooting.”

“Foster Wonders, man, what a player,” DEPSA coach Boe Neely said. “He stepped to the line and made 9-of-10 free throws, and his little buddy the guard was 6-for-6. Those guys came and and played like champions. They’re a great example for our younger players to learn from.”

The “little buddy,” Johnson, scored 23.