Justin St. Ours/Escanaba Daily Press Photo North Central’s Chloe Webber (left) shoots a layup against Norway’s Cadeance Lindsley as Norway’s Kassi Gyselinck (23) looks on Thursday.

POWERS — It was a battle of will between the walking wounded Thursday night in Powers, but it was Andie Arsenault who sealed the game for the Jets from the free throw line in a 51-45 victory over Norway in a Skyline Central Conference girls basketball contest.

“Andie (Arsenault) kind of sealed it for us with those free throws,” Jets coach Lee Vincent said. “She’s been out of school for three days (with an illness) but came tonight. We had three people ill, and we made it through. We didn’t play great, but what can you expect when your two main players are still ill?”

After a jumper from Bree Arsenault, the Jets (9-5, 9-4 SCC) led 43-36 with 5:13 left in the game.

However, just short of a minute later, Katlyn Hosking scored for Norway to reduce its deficit to 43-38. She then went 1 for 2 from the charity stripe shortly after to make it 43-39 with 2:56 left.

With the Knights (1-15, 0-11 SCC) closing in on possibly their first conference win, Andie Arsenault sank four straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

“I think we did a good job of limiting Andie throughout the game, but her free throws at the end (hurt us),” Knights coach Joe Tinti said. “It was a real team effort. We’re down to seven — my starting point guard is out with a concussion — and some girls stepped up into their roles. Maddie Chellew and McKenna Neuens stepped up into roles they haven’t been put in, and they did great.”

On the next Knights’ possession, Andie Arsenault made another crucial play, stealing the ball and eventually finding Chloe Webber for a triple on the other end to extend the Jets’ lead to 50-39.

“Chloe Webber hit some good shots again tonight,” Vincent said. “We pressed, but we got tired, and it’s pretty hard to press when you’re sick. We also got into some foul trouble. Other than that we slid through, and I’m happy with that. They always play hard, I won’t take that away from them. I’m just proud of all the girls that played when they were sick. They did as good as they could do.”

Norway’s Mackenzie Clifford made a valiant effort in the closing minute with back-to-back triples, but it wasn’t enough as time ran out.

“I’ve felt all year that we’ve had trouble clicking,” Tinti said. “It’s been a learning curve all year for us. We came out and we played well. We kept in it right until the end. A couple things could’ve went our way, and we could’ve won this one. Ultimately, they made their free throws when they needed to. It was a scrappy game tonight, and I think people got their money’s worth.”

Webber led the Jets with a career-high 14 points. Bree Arsenault notched 13 and Andie Arsenault chipped in 11.

Kassi Gyselinck and Clifford led the Knights with 12 points apiece, while Danae Anderson followed with 11.

Norway, which won the JV game 39-21, visits Mid Peninsula next Thursday. North Central hosts Carney-Nadeau Monday.

Norway 11 7 12 15 — 45

N. Central 11 14 12 14 — 51

NORWAY: Gyselinck 12, Clifford 12, Anderson 11, Hosking 6, Lindsley 2, Neuens 2. F: 19; Fouled out: Neuens; FT: 9-16; 3-point field goals: Anderson 3, Clifford 2, Gyselinck 1.

NORTH CENTRAL: Webber 14, B. Arsenault 13, A. Arsenault 11, Hundsrucker 5, Neville 4, Fleetwood 4. F: 18; Fouled out: none; FT: 17-23; 3-point field goals: Webber 2, B. Arsenault 2.