(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Iron Mountain’s Ellison Powell (32) drives towards the basket past Hancock’s Lexi Koskela (44) in a West PAC Conference girls basketball game, Friday night at the Mountaineer Gymnasium.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A swarming press with athletic guards and offensive efficiency powered Hancock past Iron Mountain 68-43 here Friday night in a West PAC Conference girls basketball game.

The final game of the regular season was also Senior Night for Iron Mountain.

Sophomore duo Isabella Hebert and Kaisa Salani combined for 47 points for Hancock, with Hebert draining a game-high 25. Fellow sophomore Ellison Powell led Iron Mountain with 17 points.

The first quarter was very competitive, with both teams getting good looks at the basket and taking good shots. The Mountaineers were breaking Hancock’s press.

“We were really working the ball well in the first quarter. We’ve been working on doing some different things offensively and I am pleased that we could,” said Iron Mountain head coach Karen Ellis.

“Iron Mountain did a great job in the first quarter. They did some things offensively, that we haven’t seen this year, and we had to adjust to it,” said veteran head coach Ward Helakoski, in his first season at the helm of the Hancock girls squad.

The Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run the first 3:22 of the second quarter and never relinquished their lead.

Iron Mountain also began to struggle with Hancock’s pressure, especially at the top of the key. That led to several turnovers by the Mountaineers.

Hancock capitalized. Salani attacked the basket on a handful of occasions, weaving through the Mountaineer defense.

“Salani played great tonight, she usually plays with this type of confidence,” Helakoski said. “Sierrah Driscoll, she works hard within our press. She doesn’t get enough credit because she’s not noticed in the scorebook often.”

Iron Mountain continued to work their offense in the final stanza, but the double-digit lead the Bulldogs had was too much to overcome.

“Despite the outcome and the score, I am pleased with the way we played and with our effort tonight,” Ellis stated.

Anslee Runsat chipped in 10 points for Iron Mountain in the loss.

“I am very pleased with this being my first year with this group and a COVID year that we got to 10 wins,” Helakoski said. “We had minimal offseason and preseason preparation, like most everyone probably had. But we had a great regular season.”

Hancock finished the season at 10-4, including a recent win versus the No. 1-ranked team in the Division 4 side of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters girls U.P. basketball poll — Ewen-Trout Creek. The Bulldogs open up Division 3 district play Monday as they travel to Painesdale-Jeffers.

Iron Mountain finished the regular season at 3-12 (1-9 West PAC, 2-6 Mid Peninsula). The Mountaineers will remain home, as they’re the host for a Division 3 MHSAA district game.

IM will entertain rival Norway on Monday, with a 6 p.m. tip off scheduled.

Behind 13 points from Callie Bianco and 11 from Alexa Haring, Iron Mountain won the JV game 42-25.

Hancock 15 11 26 16 — 68

Iron Mtn 12 8 13 10 — 43

HANCOCK: Chynoweth 2, Aho 4, Pietala 6, Brey 5, Salani 22, Hebert 25, Koskela 4; FT: 9-12; F: 19; Fouled Out: None; 3-point FG: Salani 2, Brey.

IRON MTN: Mongrain 6, E. Ellis 5, Runsat 10, Powell 17, Bianco 3, Maycroft 2; FT: 16-23; F: 13; Fouled Out: None; 3-point FG: E. Ellis.