HOUGHTON – Sometimes in the world of basketball, there are nights where the shots just do not fall.

Just ask Julie Filpus, head coach of the Houghton Gremlins girls basketball team, as her team went down in defeat to the Iron Mountain Mountaineers, 56-34, Friday at the Houghton Gym.

“We had a scoring drought there, and I think the girls started hanging their heads and that just compounded our scoring problems,” she said.

The game started out on a Houghton high note as junior Molly Bugni poured in the first basket for the Gremlins. Iron Mountain senior Riley Poupore countered with a three-pointer and the both teams were off and running.

The Mountaineers (3-3, 2-2) led 9-4 with 3:25 left in the first quarter but the Gremlins came back to lead at the break 13-12.

In the second quarter, the momentum started to change towards the Mountaineers. Poor passing and ballhandling led to quite a few Gremlins turnovers and then easy baskets for the Mountaineers.

At halftime, the Mountaineers led 28-25.

“I told the girls at halftime that they have got to want this one,” said Filpus. “But we just couldn’t execute.”

In the third period, the Gremlins couldn’t buy a basket while Iron Mountain was cashing in. The Mountaineers quickly pulled ahead by 10, 37-27, and continued to roll.

“Our shots fell and we were patient on offense,” said Iron Mountain coach Katelynn Grenier. “It made a world of difference.”

Two of her leaders were Poupore and Saylor Swartout. The seniors were deadly in the paint as they combined for more than half of their team’s points. Poupore led with 20 points and had 10 rebounds while Swartout scored nine points.

Grenier also credits the win with the tough defense of senior Faith Bal.

“Her task was to shut down (Cassie) Ryynanen, and she did a great job,” she said.

While Ryynanen led the scoring for the Gremlins, she only had 12 points, which was a far cry from her typical 20 or more. Behind her was Bugni with nine points.

In the fourth quarter, the Gremlins could only muster two points as the Mountaineers pulled away to an 18-point victory.

“It was team effort tonight, said Grenier. “We executed well and I am very proud of our girls.”

Chloe Bianco’s 27 points paced the Iron Mountain junior varsity past Houghton 62-48.

The Mountaineers visit Kingsford on Jan. 4.

Iron Mountain 12 16 19 7 – 56

Houghton 13 12 7 2 – 34

IRON MOUNTAIN: Poupore 20, Swartout 9, Bal 6, Hanna 8, Thomann 5, Lundhohl 6; Fouls: 14; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Poupore 1

HOUGHTON: Markham 9, Colombe 6, Bugni 9, Ryynanen 12, Connors 4, Svoke 5; Fouls: 11; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Ryynanen 1