Calumet celebrates state title win

HANCOCK — It’s time to hang another banner, but this one will be for state champions.

The Calumet Copper Kings girls’ basketball team returned home after winning their first ever Class C State Championship.

The Copper Kings knocked off Flint Hamady 57-49 on Saturday in the final game.

In his first year as the coach in Calumet, Coach Jeff Twardzik said his team won because they really worked for it.

Copper Kings Coach Jeff Twardzik said, “You know, I had a motto that I started with those kids that we work harder than everybody else—that’s why we win. And it was that simple. You know, we did. They worked harder than anybody in the state of Michigan and they did that for the entire season—every practice, every time they studied, every time they did everything—it was everything they could give and that’s why we’re sitting in this gym today.”

Team Captain and Center Ellen Twardzik said this was a total team victory.

Copper Kings Team Captain Ellen Twardzik said, “Well, our mentality all season was Me–You and that really helped us come together at all times and it was really a team effort for everything. You never knew who was going to be on that night so we would try different combinations and the team just really got along well this whole season.”