FELCH TOWNSHIP — Sometimes all it takes is one strong quarter to win a game. In a Skyline Central Conference boys basketball matchup Tuesday, Norway waited until the fourth to push past North Dickinson 41-25 at the Carl F. Lemin Jr. Gymnasium in Felch.

Norway’s Zach Seat led all scorers with 11 points, with seven of them coming in the final frame. Seat, who scored the Knights’ first points of the game, did so with about 90 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Both teams came out of the starting blocks sloppy, committing turnovers and struggling.

“It was a pretty ugly first half in general,” said Norway head coach Jeff Gallino. “I though coach (Chris) Mattson and his team did a good job of taking us out of what we wanted to do with their defensive strategy.”

Defensively, both teams were playing well in half court. The Knights had their guards, Logan Parolini and Jeff VanHolla, pressuring Maximus Mattson of the Nordics throughout the night.

Mattson led the Nordics with nine points, all from beyond the arc.

Despite trailing by one point at halftime, the Knights offense found its rhythm in the third quarter and took the lead for the first time.

“Up until this game, we had been really struggling defensively,” said ND head coach Chris Mattson. “We’ve been giving up 70 points a game or more. We played with heart tonight and I am really proud of the effort.”

In the final stanza, Norway reapplied their strong ball pressure, which forced some Nordics turnovers. The Knights turned those turnovers into points, as well as working the ball inside to Seat.

“It definitely made things work a lot better when we hit some shots. And then working the ball inside to Zach (Seat) was a key, along with his and Nolan’s (Amundson) made free throws.”

“Give Norway credit, it was a hard fought game,” Mattson added. “When they got the ball inside on us to Seat, he did a nice job. He took us out of the game essentially.”

North Dickinson, never got into much of an offensive groove in the second half. Their defense began to sputter down the stretch as the Knights pulled away.

“To have the kids excited about playing in the fourth quarter tonight was important for this group of kids,” Mattson said. “Norway is not a bad team, I am proud of the way we played tonight.”

Norway, who improves to 6-2 (6-1 SCC) also won the JV contest, 62-13. The Knights return home to host SCC foes Rapid River on Thursday and Munising on Tuesday.

The Nordics, who slip to 0-5 (0-5 SCC) remain home as they host Rapid River on Friday.

Norway 2 10 9 20 — 41

N. Dickinson 5 8 5 7 — 25

NORWAY: Ochs 1, Amundson 7, Seat 11, Bray 5, VanHolla 5, Ortman 2, Parolini 10; FT: 13-20; F: 12; Fouled Out: None; 3-point FG: VanHolla, Bray, Parolini 2.

N. DICKINSON: T. Mattson 3, Donaldson 6, M. Mattson 9, Graham 4, Smith 1, Glasheen 2; FT: 4-7; F: 18; Fouled Out: None; 3-point FG: M. Mattson 3.