Iron Mountain senior Macy Linsenbigler (24) out races North Central’s Natalie Willa (42) on a fast break for a lay up on Thursday at Mountaineer Gym. Linsenbigler recorded a career-high 34 points in the win. (Terry Raiche photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — In the first game of the year, Iron Mountain senior Macy Linsenbigler showed her scoring potential.

On Thursday, Linsenbigler continued her dominance racking up a career high in points as the Mountaineers’ girls varsity basketball team took down North Central, 77-52, at Mountaineer Gym for its first win of the 2024-25 campaign.

It was also the first win for IM’s new head coach Chad Lindeman.

“It feels great,” Lindeman said. “Anytime you win it feels good, but to get the first one, so far. I’m very happy.”

Linsenbigler echoed her coach’s sentiments after picking up the first win in her senior season.

“I’m so happy,” Linsenbigler said. “We all needed it because we were so close against West Iron and it really hurt us that we didn’t win that game.”

From the opening tip, it was apparent that Linsenbigler was locked in as she notched nine first-quarter points.

Iron Mountain’s defense locked up the Jets in the first quarter, taking a 23-12 lead into the second frame.

“It’s the intensity that we’re playing with right now,” Lindeman said. “It’s not anything that I’m doing special, the girls are just playing with an intensity. I’m happy with the way they’re playing.”

By halftime, Linsenbigler pushed her total to 21 points and the Mountaineers took a 40-22 lead into the locker room.

“Macy is a special player because she has so much speed and jumping ability,” Lindeman said. It’s a great asset for me to have, but still have to get better offensively. I know we scored 77 points but that was mostly on turnovers. So we need to get better offensively, if we’re going to win more games.”

Only two games into his first season at the helm of the Iron Mountain girls varsity team, Lindeman wants to see what’s possible for his team once they become more comfortable in his system.

“We were getting open looks but we’ve got to knock those shots down,” Lindeman said. “We can’t continue shooting 20 percent from the field. We’ve got to start getting it into the 50 percent range. It’ll come. It’s early, yet. They’re learning a new system with me and we’re learning a lot of new things so we’ll get it tightened up.”

North Central’s Addison Otradovec (15) brings the ball down court on Thursday at Mountaineer Gym. (Terry Raiche photo)

North Central began to attack the glass in the third quarter, causing the Mountaineers issues. Addison Otradovec also found her footing on the offensive end, pouring in 10 points and cutting the Mountaineers lead down to 15 points.

“Our big girls have to box out,” Lindeman said. “We have to do better on the boards. We’ve got to start cleaning the glass. Zahra (Wicks) is six foot tall and Bella (Person) is six foot tall. We’ve got to get them rebounding and boxing out.”

The Jets rally continued in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t last long. Linsenbigler scored eight points in the frame and the Mountaineers locked up the win.

Linsenbigler led all scorers in the game with 34 points, a career-high. She was also 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

“I was so excited,” Linsenbigler said. “Everyone was really pumping me up and I was ecstatic.”

Iron Mountain also received contributions from Bella Pickett (10 points), Olivia Geneva (2 points), Lexi Buchanan (3 points), Ava Marttila (8 points), Alysia Wood (13 points), Bella Person (2 points), Gerilis Sampoll Torres (3 points) and Wicks (2 points).

Dalyn Otradovec led the Jets with 23 points.

North Central also received contributions from Kate Linder (3 points), Addison Otradovec (18 points), Autumn Triest (6 points) and Natalie Willa (2 points).

Iron Mountain is back in action on Thursday as it faces off with the Braves in Gladstone. The Jets head to Stephenson on Tuesday.

LADY TROJANS 55, KNIGHTS 50

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Forest Park girls varsity basketball team is now 2-0 on the season after taking down Norway, 55-50, in Crystal Falls on Thursday.

“Our girls are doing good things,” FP head coach Kim Bjork said. “We’re playing hard for all four quarters. We’re a young team but we’re showing maturity when it comes to finishing close games.”

The Knights opened with 15 points in the first quarter and 11 in the second to take a 26-25 lead into halftime. However, Norway’s offense struggled in the second half, only scoring 24 points. The Lady Trojans scored 15 points in each of the final two quarters to lock up the win.

Elsie Williams led all scorers in the contest with 25 points. She also racked up six rebounds and four steals.

Forest Park also received contributions from Kaidince Woollard (7 points, 1 block, 9 rebounds, 2 steals), Audrey Williams (10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals), Harper Anderson (4 rebounds, 1 steal), Lily Sarder (2 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals), Aubrey Waara-Shamion (11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals) and Delaney Wagner (1 rebound).

Junior Lauren Adams led the Knights with 24 points. She also had 11 rebounds and a steal.

Norway also received contributions from Abby Richter (5 points), Mary Cavagnetto (3 points, 2 rebounds), Anna Falk (1 rebound), Ashley Carlson (1 rebound), Paytan Carlson (10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal), Kara Stanchina (2 points, 2 rebounds) and Lila Kleikamp (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal).

The Knights are back home on Tuesday against North Dickinson while the Lady Trojans face off with Ewen-Trout Creek on Tuesday.

LADYCATS 68, HORNETS 13

FLORENCE, Wis. — After falling to 1-1 on the season, the Florence girls varsity basketball team was looking to get back in the win column on Thursday as they welcomed Northern Lakes Conference foe Elcho to Florence County High School.

The LadyCats did just that as they rolled to a 68-13 win over the Hornets to improve to 2-1.

Senior Kamdan Johnson scored 12 points in the first half while Miley VanDenHeuvel added eight. Florence ended the first half with a 41-8 lead over Elcho.

As a unit, the LadyCats made seven three-pointers in the game.

Johnson led all scorers in the contest with 19 points.

Florence also received contributions from Ashlyn VanDenHeuvel (2 pints), CeCe Mills (11 points), Naomi Millan (4 points), Miley VanDenHeuvel (13 points), Kelsi Chrisman (8 points), Bryn Sullivan (6 points) and Ashley Peterson (6 points).

The LadyCats are back in action on Tuesday against Laona/Wabeno in Laona, Wis.