Hoops Wrap: Nordics stretch streak to four
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ROCK -- Ashton Hord recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 13 steals and Micah Lindholm added a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead the North Dickinson girls varsity basketball team to its fourth straight win, a 45-19 decision over Mid Peninsula in a Skyline Central Conference game Friday.
The Nordics (6-2) took control early, holding the Wolverines to just one point in building a 12-point lead. North Dickson was never threatened from there.
"We started off really good on defense, got our hands in the passing lanes and created a lot of steals and transition buckets," North Dickinson coach Kirk Mattson said.
Chrislyn Inglese pitched in with 10 points for the Nordics.
"Overall, we moved the ball on offense really well," Mattson said. "We learned something about moving the ball around the perimeter against Carney."
Mattson was referring to his team's 48-46 over the previously unbeaten and top-ranked Wolves on Jan. 12.
North Dickinson may get more firepower back soon. Injured senior starter Kassandra Cary, who is out with a shoulder injury, may be back in a couple of weeks, Mattson said.
Lady Trojans fail to keep up late
STEPHENSON -- Through three quarters, the Forest Park Lady Trojans were right there with host Stephenson, trailing by two after falling behind by eight after the first quarter. But the Eagles pressed down on the pedal in the fourth and sped away from Forest Park for a 48-32 Skyline Central Conference victory on Friday.
"We played well in the second and third quarters," said Forest Park coach Kim Bjork, referring to her team's 22-16 stretch in the middle of the contest. "Our defense created some offense for us tonight.
"We need more girls to look to score," she added. "We're not confident taking the ball to the basket."
Gracie Peterson topped the Lady Trojans (1-8) with 11 points. Lilly Post added nine and Rayvon Jacobson chipped in with eight and sank both Forest Park's 3-pointers.
Badgers fall short of sweep
ONEIDA, Wis. -- G'ani Thayer sank six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to help Oneida Nation defeat Niagara 56-52 in a M&O Conference girls varsity contest Friday night.
The Lady Badgers defeated the Thunderhawks 51-43 in the first matchup on Nov. 30.
Junior Josie Rock scored a season-best 24 points to lead Niagara (8-5, 5-3). It was fourth time this season that Rock has scored 20 or more.
Oneida Nation won the game from the 3-point arc, sinking 13 triples just to just one for the Lady Badgers.
Wykons regress in latest defeat
IRON RIVER -- After failing to score more than 25 points in almost a month, the West Iron County boys basketball team showed some spark offensively in its home contest with Westwood on Jan. 13.
The Wykons 30 points in the first half before tailing off in their 87-38 West Pac Conference loss at Charles Greenlund Gymnasium in Iron River.
"We started to shoot the ball better in the second quarter," first-year coach Curt Olexa said. "We handled the pressure much better than we had been."
Daniel James paced West Iron (0-7, 0-4) with 10 points.
"Daniel James had a heck of a game," Olexa said. "He was all over the floor."
However, the Wykon offense dropped precipitously the next night Jan. 14 against Calumet. West Iron managed just 18 points in their 52-18 defeat to the Copper Kings in a West Pac Conference game at West Iron.
Olexa said his team did not handle the Calumet defense very well as the Wykons fell behind 20-2 at halftime.
"We played lousy against the press," he said. "Dribbled right into the trap."
James topped West Iron again with eight points. Peyton Hill scored six and Elijah Oberlin added four, the only players who scored in the game for the Wykons.
With a short roster, the Wykons brought up five junior varsity players for the varsity contest.
"It makes it kind of tough to be short-handed like that," Olexa said.
He said the Wykons are expected to be back at full strength tonight when they host Houghton.
Balanced attack powers Bobcats
ELCHO, Wis. -- William Kelley scored a game-high 23 points to lead four Florence players in double figures as the Bobcats fought off Elcho 70-62 in a Northern Lakes Conference boys varsity basketball matchup on Friday in Elcho.
Kelley scored 13 of his points in the first half to help Florence (8-3, 5-1) to a 34-30 edge at the break.
Junior guards Dominic DeMuri and Evan Johnson combined for 23 points in the second half as the Bobcats fought off a game Elcho squad.
"Tough road win," Florence coach Bryan Bomberg said. "Credit (Elcho coach) Michelle (Kincaid) and squad. They played tough, disciplined and made some great plays. I was proud of all of my guys tonight for sticking together and finishing."
Johnson, DeMuri and Patrick Milan all scored 13 points for the victors. Milan grabbed nine rebounds and Johnson handed out seven assists and posted seven rebounds.