North Central junior Griffin Gatien goes to the basket against Rapid River on Monday at North Central School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

SPALDING — A 10-point halftime lead for the North Central Jets disappeared in the second half but a 10-point fourth quarter from junior Riley Cretens led the Jets to a 47-43 victory over Rapid River here Monday.

“Coach just wanted me to drive it hard to the hoop,” Cretens said. “I hit a big three and continued to get to the rack and draw fouls and get to the free throw line. Our defense turned it up in the second half. Kaden Malone is a beast on the defensive side of the ball and he does a great job of locking down on his man and forcing a lot of turnovers to set up our offense.”

The Jets led 31-26 as the fourth quarter began. Rockets sophomore Brennan Kee hit a 3-pointer from the wing to cut the deficit to 31-29.

Cretens followed it up with a 3-pointer of his own and his second of the game to extend the North Central lead to 34-29.

Off of a Jets turnover, Rockets junior Rowen Flath drove to the basket for a layup to cut the margin to 34-31. After, Cretens split a pair of free throws to put the Jets up 35-31. Rockets junior Jae Poma knocked down a mid-range jumper and junior Jake Fox drove through the lane for a layup to tie the game at 35.

Malone worked his way to the basket for a layup to put the Jets back in front 37-35 but Flath would answer with a mid-range jumper. Cretens drove the basket and drew a foul and connected on both free throws to put the Jets up 39-37.

“He did what we needed him to do,” Jets coach Jon Haight said. “When he attacks the basket good things happen for us and tonight we shot the ball pretty well from the free throw line and that was definitely a key point in the game.”

Olson tied the game again for the Rockets as he drove to the basket for a layup. Olson finished with 22 points on the night.

“We did a good job of battling back in the game,” Rockets coach Brent Lundquist said. “Credit to North Central the key moments when they needed a basket they got it.”

Flath connected on a 3-pointer moments later to give the Rockets the lead at 42-39, their first since early in the first quarter.

Jets senior Ben Stage knocked down a triple to tie the game at 42 and moments later Cretens took it to the basket for a layup to put the Jets back in the lead at 44-42. They held on, earning their second straight win for the first time this season.

Rapid River 8 4 14 17 — 43

North Central 13 9 9 16 — 44

Rapid River — Poma 2, Kee 3, Olson 22, Flath 10, Fox 3, Deurson 3. FT: 5-10; F: 13; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Kee, Olson, Flath, Deurson.

North Central — Cretens 14, Stage 5, Mercier 7, Malone 14, Gatien 5, Castle 2. FT: 12-20; F: 18; Fouled Out: None; Technicals: Cretens; 3-pointers: Cretens 2, Malone 2, Stage.