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Ê MANCELONA - Trailing by six points in the third quarter, Mancelona successfully negotiated a stirring comeback to take a narrow 47-45 Ski Valley Conference boys basketball victory over Inland Lakes last Friday night.

While several other games were canceled because of yet another blast of snow from Mother Nature, the Ironmen bumped their record up to 9-2 with their second win of the week.

The Ironmen handled Johannesburg-Lewiston a little more easily in rolling to a 74-58 victory last Wednesday.

It proved their mettle as well, since the Ironmen had seen their undefeated streak in the conference snapped at five straight games the previous week with a loss to Gaylord St. Mary.

But they didn't appear to be suffering any lingering effects from the loss to the Snowmen when they opened last week's action against Inland Lakes.

Close games are often won at the free throw line, and this one was no different as the Ironmen came through big at the charity stripe late in the contest.

Mancelona came back from that six-point deficit to take the lead with some hot free throw shooting, and then sealed the win with a late steal by Mike Herczak.

Steve Sheridan keyed the Ironmen's offensive output with 21 points, which included five 3-point field goals.

Greg Blanco contributed 7 points, and gave the Ironmen some extra offensive opportunities with 10 rebounds. He also dished off for 6 assists.

Inland Lakes was led by Steven Kolb, who scored 17 points.

Tony Derrer stepped up for the Ironmen against Johannesburg, firing in 24 points. He also had 7 blocked shots and hauled down 7 rebounds.

Blanco put in 17 points and distributed 3 assists, while Herczak added 11 points and 9 rebounds.

Sheridan scored 9 points and had 8 rebounds.

Mitch Reed had 16 points and Chris Rieck added 13 for Johannesburg.

Mancelona is 7-1 in the conference and will host Bellaire on Wednesday (tonight) before traveling to Pellston on Friday.