KINGSFORD’S KATE COOK looks to break the trap of Ishpeming’s Tia Mattila (42) and Madisyn Mead (4) during Tuesday’s non-conference basketball game.

KINGSFORD — Kingsford dropped a 48-31 non-conference girls basketball decision to Ishpeming Tuesday at the Kingsford Middle School Gymnasium.

The Flivvers, missing senior Brooke Kriegl from the starting five due to inflammation in her left foot, found it difficult to score.

“We struggled to generate offense, which I knew would be a problem without Brooke,” Flivvers head coach Lisa Harry said. “She creates scoring opportunities for everyone else, because she draws to much defensive attention from whoever we’re playing.”

Kingsford’s offense seemed to sputter for most of the game.

“We seemed a step behind throughout the game, which we need to improve on,” Harry said. “Tomorrow is another day of practice, we need to work towards improving each game, because it’s a long season and we need to keep our focus.”

Maggie Strehlow led the Flivvers with 13 points.

Christy Glodowski grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists for Kingsford.

Ishpeming and head coach Ryan Reichel credited his squad’s ball movement in the victory.

“Our offense is dictated off of ball movement, because we don’t run a lot of sets,” he said. “It’s like an old man, city league style of play, where the ball moves and hits the right person at the right time.

“The girls did a good job with the height advantage Kingsford had, we pulled their tall girls out of the paint and were able to get some dribble drive opportunities.”

The Hematites were led in scoring by Madisyn Mead with 14 points, Emma Porier chipped in 13 and Tia Mattila with 10.

Reichel noted that at one point, Ishpeming had a 5-foot-2 girl guarding a 5-11 Kingsford player, all the while the Hematites out rebounded Kingsford.

“We were able to do that by outworking them and our ball movement forcing them to stay in man to man defense,” Reichel noted.

Harry noted that her team needs to work on not turning the ball over as often, as well as positioning while rebounding on both ends of the floor. The target return date for Kriegl is Jan. 3 versus Iron Mountain.

“Any time you take Brooke Kriegl off of any team, that team is a different team,” Reichel said. “I expect a much different game when we play them again in Ishpeming. I hope she gets healthy as soon as possible, she’s a great player and fun to watch.”

The Flivvers (1-2) travel to non-conference foe Forest Park Friday night.

Kingsford won the JV game 39-31.

Ishpeming 18 5 8 17 – 48

Kingsford 11 3 6 10 – 31

ISHPEMING: Poirier 13, Harris 4, Mead 14, Koski 2, Nyman 4, Tia Mattila 10, Loman 2. FT: 10-15. F: 14. 3-point FG: Poirier, Mead, Nyman, Mattila (3). Fouled Out: Loman

KINGSFORD: Olkkonen 2, Cook 5, Doolittle 8, Glodowski 3, Strehlow 13. FT: 9-15. F: 8. 3-point FG: None. Fouled Out: None.