HANCOCK — Sometimes a steady, unrelenting defensive pressure can be the best thing a basketball team has going for it.

The Hancock girls team had just that Friday night in a 39-27 win over Iron Mountain.

The Bulldogs limited the Mountaineers (1-10) to a measly 18 shots from the floor in the West PAC win.

“I thought our defensive play tonight was very good,” Hancock coach Dan Pertile said after his team’s seventh win in 13 outings. “We stayed after them and didn’t allow them to set up an offense.”

Iron Mountain skipper Katelynn Grenier felt that Hancock’s defensive pressure dictated the tempo in the game.

“They didn’t allow us to get anything going,” Grenier said. “They’re an athletic team, but to only get off 18 shots from the floor is ridiculous.”

The steady play of D’Andra Kero kept the ‘Dawgs in front from the first quarter on. Kero scored 15 points in the game.

“D’Andra made some big shots for us,” Pertile said. “There was a three-pointer the third quarter when the Mountaineers were making a run, that was a key one.”

The Bulldogs were up 19-11 at halftime and after three periods at 29-24.

Baskets by Kero and Taylor Sebbas helped keep the lead safe in the final eight minutes.

Reagan Lundholm accounted for 16 points for Iron Mountain, which plays next at Negaunee Jan. 31.