It’s never crystal clear which is better — to stay busy but risk fatigue, or in many cases recently illness, or to get some rest now in preparation for the stretch run that can be a whirlwind.

When the 32 minutes was complete on Thursday, the Flivvers knocked off the Lady Trojans 42-22 for their fourth win in the six games. Meanwhile, Forest Park dropped its 11th straight contest.

The Flivvers and the Lady Trojans approached the game differently. For Kingsford coach Jon Lorenzoni, the plan was to rotate players and grind their way through the final game of a busy stretch. For Forest Park coach Kim Bjork, it was another chance for her team to get more experience and gain more court awareness and instinct.

Both coaches gave their impressions on those issues afterward.

Forest Park’s Gracie Peterson (42) hauls down a rebound after a battle with Kingsford’s Abby Terrian (10) and Laura Bracket (12). The Flivvers held Peterson, the Lady Trojans’ top scorer, to just two points in their 42-22 victory.

“I thought we did our jobs,” Lorenzoni said of his 7-7 team which played without starting point guard Talia Wallis, out with illness. “We were a little bit worn down, three games this week and three games last week. And some of them were battling through some sickness.

“We were trying to keep them all hydrated and we were trying to rotate in a lot of people.”

Bjork spoke of team and individual growth.

“Our girls are young, in the sense of development as basketball players,” she began. “They’re not always putting in the time that a lot of girls do. So it’s taking us a long time to get them to where they need to be, and obviously everybody else is still building and we’re trying to get there as fast as we can.

“We’re trying to get them to understand the game. I mean, fundamentals are important and we’re trying to get that, but understand the game. Sometimes you get kids in there that are robotic. And we’re trying to get them to understand and see the openings and just getting them to be basketball players.”

Kingsford broke free early with a 8-0 run to go up 14-3. Junior Erika Malone scored six points and senior Zoie Geronimi added four points in the quarter.

Geronimi was effective close to the basket throughout, finishing with a game-high 14 points.

“Zoie’s always going to bring the physicality,” Lorenzoni said. “Always. Tonight she scored for us, and I’d like to give her a nice shout-out. She played a nice game.”

After Geronimi split a pair of free throws to give her team a 21-8 advantage, Forest Park senior Rayven Jacobson sank a 3-pointer to cut the Flivver lead to 10 at the break. If not for several missed layups, the Lady Trojans could have been closer or even ahead at the break.

“We had good looks, too,” Bjork said. “They were not forced looks. That’s been part of our issue all year. But our effort was there tonight. It was the best effort I think we’ve had for an entire game. We’ve had good quarters, but to put together four quarters of just working hard on defense and just getting after it, it was good.”

The Flivvers increased their lead to 17 early in the third quarter on a traditional 3-point play and two free throws from Geronimi and two free throws from Paige Olsen. After the Lady Trojans cut the gap to 13 on buckets from Lilly Post and Gracie Peterson, Kingsford’s Abby Terrian sank two free throws and a triple to push the Flivvers to a 33-15 lead after three quarters.

The fourth quarter was played evenly, with Forest Park’s Charlie Larson and Kingsford’s Allie LaVarnway both hitting a 3-pointer along the way.

“I’m happy with the week,” Lorenzoni said. “I thought we let one slip away against West Iron (a 43-38 defeat on Monday). We had our chances down the stretch, but West Iron made plays. And then we had a good game against Norway.

“Now we’re going to take a few days off and rest and hopefully get ready for the GNC contests (home against Escanaba on Tuesday, at Marquette on Friday).”

Jerry DeRoche can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 244, or at jderoche@ironmountaindailynews.com.