The Bluejays graduated three starters from that team, but still have point guard Kara Sowinski and post Mari Szews in tow and have talent and size in their newcomers.

So when the Niagara Lady Badgers took the floor Tuesday afternoon against the Bluejays, they knew what they were in for. And despite falling into a quick 11-1 hole, Niagara played competitively from there on out before dropping a 48-42 decision in the opener of a girls-boys doubleheader at Niagara High School.

“You know, I’m proud of this team,” Niagara coach Karl Lamoreaux said after his team’s second loss in eight games to start the season. “I know (Three Lakes) graduated a couple of girls, but that’s a quality team, that’s a big team and they’re well coached, so I’m happy that we competed.”

That was in question to begin the game when junior wing Kallie Volk hit Niagara with 10 quick points in the opening seven minutes as the Bluejays built a 20-9 advantage. But junior guard Josie Rock answered with a 3-pointer, a driving bucket and two free throws to bring the Lady Badgers back to within 23-18 with 5:26 to play before halftime.

Niagara junior guard Josie Rock (10) looks to drive on Three Lakes senior Sara Gruszynski (34) as the Lady Badgers tried to fight back from an early double-digit deficit. Niagara took a brief one-point lead in the second half Tuesday, but eventually succumbed 48-42.

“We got down early, Volk shot lights out the first six minutes of the game and got us in a hole,” Lamoreaux said. “But my team fought back from that and we were only down eight at half. I think we outplayed them in the second half, so this team doesn’t lay down for anybody. They’re going to fight, fight, fight.”

That competitive nature emerged quickly after halftime. Junior Abigail Wells hit consecutive 3-pointers, Rock scored on a drive and Samantha Oratch split a pair of free throws to give the Lady Badgers a 35-34 lead with 10:34 left to play. However, starter Morgan Borchardt picked up her fourth foul shortly after and Niagara went scoreless over the next three minutes as Three Lakes (5-3) retook the lead.

The final two minutes were a parade to the foul line as the Bluejays hit 6 of 11 and Niagara sank 3 of 4.

While the Lady Badgers struggled against Three Lakes’ 1-3-1 pressing defense, they cut their turnovers from 14 in the first half down to seven in the second.

“They’re long, long, long, but we knew that’s what they would try to do,” Lamoreaux said. “You try to practice against it but you don’t get the realistic effect of it because they’re so big.”

Niagara junior Abagail Wells (12) looks to find an open teammate against the Bluejays in Tuesday’s varsity clash. Wells hit three 3-pointers in the game, two of which came early in the second half, when the Lady Badgers scored the first nine points to take a 35-34 lead.

Lamoreaux pointed to the play of Sowinski, who led all scorers with 15 points, as the key in the game.

“My assistant (Ryan Allred) both agree the best player on the court is their point guard,” he said. “For three years, she’s been killing us. She’s a really nice player.”

That being said, Lamoreaux left feeling pretty good about his group.

“Like I told the girls, we can take some confidence away from this game that we can play with anybody,” the coach said. “You don’t like to lose games, but we lost and we’re going to take some confidence away that we can play with people.”

Rock led the Lady Badgers with 14 points, while Wells and Mallory Sanicki tallied nine each.

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 247, or at jderoche@ironmountaindailynews.com.