(Todd Rose Escanaba Daily Press photo) North Central’s Gracie Kleikamp (14) shoots over Rapid River’s Natalie Belanger (left) Wednesday at North Central. Looking on for the Rockets is Cecilia Pilon (center right) and Zeta Keys (25), and looking on for the Jets is Shea LaCoursier (34) and Zoe LaBonte (30).

POWERS — A strong defensive performance gave the North Central Jets girls’ basketball team (3-6) a 51-36 win Wednesday night over the Rapid River Rockets (2-10) in Powers.

“Defensively, we were really tuned in tonight,” said Jets coach Pete Schlenvogt. “I think we played defense the way we want to play defense.”

In the first half — which ended 21-21 thanks to a run of six points from Rapid’s Cecilia Pilon — Schlenvogt noted the Jets executed well on defense but couldn’t capitalize on offense. The third quarter was a different story as the Jets held the Rockets to just two points while netting 14 of their own.

Andie Arsenault (23 points, 10 steals) and Gracie Kleikamp (18 points, 10 rebounds) both earned double-doubles. The 18 was a career-high scoring effort for Kleikamp.

Another impressive defensive effort for the Jets came from Talia LaFave.

“That was the best I’ve seen her play,” said Schlenvogt. who also mentioned Ashtyn Smith’s effort as another factor.

For the Rockets, the loss came down to the level of intensity brought by the Jets, according to coach Scott Goodacre.

“They were just more aggressive than us,” Goodacre said.

Pilon led the Rockets with 13 points, six coming off steals in the last 32 seconds of the first half.

North Central heads to Crystal Falls to play Forest Park on Friday.

Rapid River 6 15 2 13 —  36

North Central 10 11 14 16 — 51

Rapid River — Pilon 13, Belanger 10, Thibault 4, Semear 3, Dausey 2, Keys 2, Stemick 1, Nelson 1; F:14; FT: 9-16; 3-point field goals: Semear.

North Central — Arsenault 23, Kleikamp 18, LaFave 4, Smith 3, LaCoursier 3; F: 20; FT: 15-19; 3-point field goals: Kleikamp 3, Arsenault 3.