Niagara had four players score in double figures, with junior Alyssa Cretton leading the way with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cassie Gill followed with 14 points, while Jasmine Racine and Jessica Oratch each netted 13.

The Badgers came out firing on all cylinders, shooting as well as they have all season. They were making good passes, hitting their field goals, sinking their free throws and making good decisions with the basketball.

“This group has never played this well in the first half, or in any half, before,” said Niagara head coach Karl Lamoreaux. “We went in to the locker room with 43 points on the scoreboard, that’s never happened.”

Niagara was also using a 3/4 court press in the first half, which flustered the Blue Jays, causing them to turn the ball over frequently. The Badgers capitalized on that and held a 43-20 lead.

Niagara senior Jessica Oratch shoots over Mari Szews (13) of Three Lakes, in the first half Friday night in a WIAA Division 5 Round 2 matchup. (Matt McCarthy Daily News photos)

Freshman Josie Rock, who recorded a team-high five of the Badgers’ 11 steals, got most of those in the first half when the Badgers were pressing.

Blue Jays co-head coach George Lurvey noted that his team was usually a better shooting team during the season than they were in the first half. He was blown away by how well Niagara shot in the first half.

“The tides turned in the second half, we started clawing our way back, but a 24-point deficit was way too much to overcome in the end,” Lurvey said. “Their press gave us fits tonight, which was also uncharacteristic of us. Our heads were spinning and they made the most of it”

“Even though we had the lead that we had at halftime, I knew the game was far from over,” Lamoreaux said. “They (Three Lakes) have very good shooters than can get hot, and then they did in the second half.”

The Blue Jays had three players register in double figures, with Kara Sowinski leading the way with a game-high 18 points. Taylor Kolling added 14 points, while Kortnie Volk chipped in 10.

Niagara went away from pressing T-L in the second half to try to take extra time off the clock, Lamoreaux noted.

In the second half, the Blue Jays were patient on offense, took good shots and were making most of them.

The Badgers missed some free throws down the stretch and seemed to be panicking offensively to try to run time off the clock

“I attribute our first half to this senior class, they ‘want it’, they want to make a tournament run,” said Lamoreaux. “Racine and Gill are in their fourth year of playing on the varsity, they know what it takes, and establishing the early lead we had was key tonight.”

Lurvey noted that Oratch being so hard to defend, was something his team tried to plan for. “She’s a lot to deal with, she’s a good basketball player. She’s got size and a good move underneath the basket,” said Lurvey. “We changed our game plan in the second half to front her, but we only slowed her somewhat.”

With the win, No. 3 seed Niagara improves to 16-8 on the season. They return to action tonight in a Round 3 game at No. 2 seed Gillett, with a 7 p.m. tip off scheduled. Gillett defeated Gibraltar 59-56 Friday night.

Three Lakes, a member of the Northern Lakes Conference, ends its season at 15-9.

Three Lakes 20 42 — 62

Niagara 43 28 — 71

THREE LAKES: Volk 10, Sowinski 18, Szews 1, M. Gruszynski 8, Kolling 14, Lurvey 6, Fink 1, S. Gruszynski 4. FT: 5-12. F: 16. 3-point FG: Sowinski (3), Kolling (2), Lurvey (2). Fouled Out: none

NIAGARA: Oratch 13, Racine 13, Rock 7, Cretton 16, Gill 14, Maki 8. FT: 19-37. F: 14. Fouled Out: none. 3-point FG: Racine (2), Rock (2). FG shooting: 24-48. Rebounds 39 (Cretton 10, Gill 9, Oratch 8).