CRYSTAL FALLS – The North Dickinson Nordics started with a bang against Forest Park on Wednesday and led wire-to-wire in their 50-40 victory over the Lady Trojans in a MHSAA District 99 semifinal at Eddie Chambers Gymnasium.

Raina Ledzian kickstarted North Dickinson’s 13-7 run in the first quarter.

“Big win for our girls tonight, especially on the road against a very good Forest Park team,” ND coach Kirk Mattson said. “We got off to a good start with our lone senior Raina scoring seven points and getting five rebounds and playing great defense.

“That really set the tone for us and our girls kept gaining more and more confidence throughout the game.”

Ledzian scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half and played the top of the Nordics’ 1-2-2 zone, pressuring the ball and then falling into post defense when necessary.

Meanwhile, the Lady Trojans never grabbed a foothold in the game, misfiring time and time again.

North Dickinson, which lost twice to Forest Park during the regular season, added two points to its lead in the second, taking a 20-12 lead into halftime.

With the Lady Trojans’ shooting woes, the Nordics (13-9) needed to secure their defensive boards and they did that with aplomb.

“Our team rebounding was by far the best we have had all season,” Mattson said.

Playing with the lead, the Nordics needed to limit turnovers, challenge Forest Park’s outside and hit some opportune shots and free throws.

They did all three and never allowed the Lady Trojans (14-8) to completely recover from their early deficit.

“Ava Oman, Alyson Steinbrecher and Khole Roberts hit some big timely shots for us, especially mid-third quarter and fourth quarter,” Mattson said.

Forest Park sophomore Aubrey Williams helped keep her team in the fight, sinking four 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 16 points. But the rest of the Lady Trojans scuffled to produce enough offense to put some heat on ND.

The Trojans connected on 6 of 34 three-point attempts on the night.

With FP forced to foul down the stretch, Steinbrecher stepped forward and hit 10 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter. For the game, the Nordics sank 18 foul shots compared to just four for the Lady Trojans.

Steinbrecher joined Ledzian at the top of North Dickinson’s scoring list with 14 points while Oman added 12. Steinbrecher also had 11 rebounds.

Aside from Aubrey Williams’ total, senior Elsie Williams finished her prep career with nine points and seven rebounds. Tessa Bartoszek contributed seven points and Vienna Price chipped in with six.

With their win, the Nordics advance to face Norway tonight in the final. The UPSSA fifth-ranked Knights (18-4) defeated North Central 54-41 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.

Norway swept the season-series, defeating the Nordics 62-28 in its season-opener and then upending ND 42-36 on Jan. 16 in Felch Township.

Mattson knows his team is in for a battle in the final, which will be played in Norway .

“Our next game doesn’t get any easier,” he said.

NORTH DICKINSON – Oman 4 3-4 12, Lindholm 1 1-2 4, Ledzian 5 2-4 14, Steinbrecher 2 10-14 14, Roberts 2 1-2 5, Anderson 0 1-2 1. Totals: 14 18-28 50. 3-point field goals: 4 (Ledzian 2, Oman, Lindholm).

FOREST PARK – A. Williams 6 0-2 16, E. Williams 2 4-6 9, Waara-Shamion 1 0-0 2, Price 3 0-1 6, Bartoszek 3 0-0 7. Totals: 15 4-9 40. 3-point field goals: 6 (A. Williams 4, E. Williams, Bartoszek).

PREP SCORES

Wednesday, March 4

GIRLS

MHSAA Playoffs, District Semifinals

Division 1, District 1

Marquette 65, Traverse City West 55

Traverse City Central 47, Gaylord 28

Division 2, District 33

Gladstone 42, Kingsford 41

Negaunee 50, Houghton 32

Division 2, District 34

Sault Ste Marie 51, Cheboygan 26

Petoskey 57, Kalkaska 22

Division 3, District 65

Calumet 69, West Iron County 44

Westwood 48, Painesdale Jeffers 38

Division 3, District 66

Gwinn 45, Bark River-Harris 39

Menominee 66, Iron Mountain 27

Division 4, District 97

Ewen-Trout Creek 71, Bessemer 8

Wakefield-Marenisco 58, Ontonagon 29

Division 4, District 98

Baraga 85, Lake Linden-Hubbell 60

L’Anse 44, Hancock 40

Division 4, District 99

North Dickinson 50, Forest Park 40

Norway 54, North Central 41

Division 4, District 100

Ishpeming 68, Superior Central 16

Munising 47, Cooks Big Bay de Noc 27

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Compiled by Daily News sports correspondent Jerry DeRoche.