ST. NICHOLAS — There was no stopping Mid Peninsula’s Kennedy Englund in the second half on Wednesday against North Dickinson.

Englund scored 20 of her career-high 29 points in the second half to help beat the Nordics 58-51 in a Skyline Central game.

Englund hit five 3-pointers including four in the second half.

“It feels good,” Englund said. “My teammates were setting really good screens for me. We moved really well as a team and Chevy (Koski) did a really good job down low.”

Despite Englund’s big night, the Wolverines (3-2) found themselves trailing 48-47 with 3:09 left in the game after a layup by North Dickinson’s Hannah Clark.

Englund made one out of two free throws to tie the game at 48 with 1:31 remaining before missing the second. But the Wolverines got the rebound, and the ball ended back up in Englund’s hands. She buried a trey from the left wing to put Mid Pen back up by three.

On the ensuing possession, freshman Ashton Hurd responded with a three of her own for the Nordics to tie the game at 51.

The Wolverines broke the tie on a layup by Camryn Croasdell with 48 seconds left. After Englund went 1 for 2 at the free throw line to extend the lead to 54-51 with 25 seconds left, the Nordics called timeout with one last chance.

However, Clark missed a bank shot from the left block and Englund grabbed the rebound. She made both free throws and then stole the inbounds and sank two more free throws after getting fouled to seal the win.

“It was nerve-wracking there at the end,” Englund said.

Wolverines’ coach Phil Croasdell was very happy with his team’s effort.

“Our girls had to dig deep,” Croasdell said. “This was a really competitive battle between two evenly matched teams. The girls wanted to win this game — I think they were sick of practicing against each other over the break.”

In addition to her big scoring night, Englund, a junior, also grabbed 14 rebounds.

“She had a really good night,” Croasdell said. “She was feeling it there in the second half.

“I also want to give a lot of credit to Daisy (Englund). She had to guard Briana (Smith) the whole time. That was a good matchup. She (Smith) is quick and can juke and change directions better than almost anyone. She’s one of the top players in the whole UP right now, but so is Kennedy.”

It was a tough loss to swallow for the Nordics (3-3), who led 13-8 after the first quarter.

“Considering foul trouble we were in, we really stuck with it and played hard,” Nordics’ coach Kirk Mattson said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team. We had our chances, but we learned a lesson tonight.

“I think the biggest difference was we held Kennedy in check in the first half and then she got hot and hit some long bombs in the third and fourth quarter. Hats off to her, she hit some great shots.”

Koski chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Wolverines.

Hord led the Nordics with 18 points, while Smith and Clark each added 12.

Mid Pen, which also won the jayvee game 41-38, hosts Republic-Michigamme Friday.

The Nordics host North Central Friday.

North Dickinson 13 10 8 20 — 51

Mid Peninsula 8 16 14 20 — 58

NORTH DICKINSON (51): Hord 18, B. Smith 12, Clark 12, Ledzian 5, K. Smith 2, Bruette 2. FT: 7-12. F: 22 (B. Smith fouled out). 3PT: Hord 2.

MID PENINSULA (58): K. Englund 29, Koski 10, Croasdell 8, D. Englund 6, Prater 5. F: 10. FT: 15-26. 3PT: K. Englund 5.