Theresa Proudfit/The Daily News Photo NIAGARA’S JAYDEN PAYETTE fires a three over the defense of Three Lakes’ Mari Szews during Friday’s girls basketball game.

NIAGARA, Wis — Jessica Oratch led Niagara with 17 points, but the Badgers fell to Three Lakes 63-38 Friday afternoon in non-conference basketball.

“We set out to stop, their top scorers (Sydney) Lurvey and (Taylor) Kolling. We did hold Lurvey under 10 points, but we didn’t anticipate (Kara) Sowinski to score like she did,” said Niagara coach Karl Lamoreaux. “They shot well, especially Sowinski with four threes. As far as us, when we only have three players score in the whole game, we’re not going to win that way.”

Oratch also collected nine rebounds for Niagara. Alyssa Cretton added 16 points, while Sowinski and Kolling led Three Lakes with 16 points each as well. Three Lakes committed 20 turnovers in the game, while Niagara turned the basketball over 24 times.

“We’ve been typically coming out and playing very slow, and turning the ball over. Tonight, we came out faster, but were turning the ball over,” said Blue Jays co-head coach George Lurvey. “We cleaned up the turnovers near halftime, and kept the transition game going.”

Three Lakes’ ball movement in transition had the Badgers reeling throughout most of the game.

Lurvey noted that, with more height on the roster, an inside-outside style of offense is new to his team this season.

The point guard gets the ball down the floor, then passes inside to the post players, who wait for the perimeter players to get in position for an open shot and the ball gets passed back out. TL used this offense in their half court sets and it worked quite well.

It was a nine-point game at halftime, with TL leading 33-24. In the second half, the Badgers went on a scoring drought to begin the half. With eight minutes remaining, the Blue Jays led by 19 points. Three Lakes’ patience in half court offensive sets was a key in the second half — keeping the lead while running the clock down.

“We’ve gotta reboot, almost restart like it’s the beginning of the season all over again,” Lamoreaux said. “We gotta start picking up the pace in games, plus we’re not playing anywhere near where we need to be by season’s end. I think it’s time for me to figure out a different way to get through to them.”

Cassie Gill had five points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks for the Badgers (5-3), who are off for the rest of the holiday break. They travel to M&O Conference rival Wausaukee on Friday, Jan. 3. Niagara senior Jasmine Racine sat out the game due to a concussion. The Blue Jays won the JV contest.

Three Lakes 33 30 — 63

Niagara 24 14 — 38

THREE LAKES: Volk 1, Sowinski 16 Szews 16, M. Gruszynski 4, Kolling 16, Lurvey 7, Fink 1, S. Gruszynski 2. FT: 7-16. F: 11. 3-point FG: Sowinski (4), Kolling (3), Lurvey. Fouled Out: None. Rebounds 43

NIAGARA: Cretton 16, Oratch 17, Gill 5. FT: 4-10. F: 11. 3-point FG: None. Fouled Out: None. FG Shooting: 17-58. Rebounds 37 (Gill 11, Oratch 9)