Knights’ junior Elliott Kraemer (23) pump fakes in front of North Central senior Spencer Willa (45) on Friday in Norway. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

NORWAY — Sometimes, it’s not about how you win a game, but rather that you win.

The Norway boys varsity basketball team found that out on Friday as it welcomed North Central to town for a Skyline Central Conference skirmish.

It was an up-and-down affair until the fourth quarter when the No. 3-ranked Knights buckled down and slammed the door on the Jets, securing a 49-36 win.

“We finished better than we started,” Norway head coach Jeff Gallino said. “It was a low-scoring, slow-paced game. I thought we could have run our offense better. Our ball movement needed to be better. We seemed stagnant for a while tonight.”

The Knights immediately jumped on North Central as senior Cole Baij commanded the paint. He scored back-to-back fancy layups, kicking off an 8-0 run that lasted three minutes.

“They usually come out in a man defense, and I expected that,” coach Gallino said.

Jets’ senior Lane Gorzinski stopped the run with two layups in 30 seconds. Senior Abram Eichhorn added a basket in close to cut the lead to two points.

However, senior Bryce Adams responded on the next possession with his second 3-pointer of the quarter. Junior Elliott Kraemer added two points in the final seconds of the first quarter, putting Norway ahead by five.

North Central sophomore ended the frame with a 3-pointer from the right wing, and it went into the second trailing 13-11.

The Knights had a plan for Gorzinski and Malone, and they held them scoreless in the next frame.

“Lane has been tough for us,” coach Gallino said. “He’s a hard player to guard. He takes it hard to his left and does a good job. Kaden Malone is another contributor for North Central that plays really well.”

With the Jets’ top scorers getting extra attention, senior Jordan Walters opened the second quarter with a straight-away 3-pointer. Suddenly, North Central held a 14-13 advantage, its first of the contest.

There were two ties over the next three minutes, with the Jets never holding more than a two-point advantage.

Then Adams connected on a left-wing 3-pointer, and Norway took control. Masson Trudeau scored four points down the stretch, giving the Knights a 24-20 lead at the break.

“We kept it positive in the locker room and told them, ‘We need to play Norway basketball,'” coach Gallino said.

Despite the pep talk, Norway opened the third quarter at a pace similar to the first half. However, Trudeau kept them afloat. He scored seven points, including a clutch 3-pointer that put the Knights ahead by two with 54 seconds until the fourth. Both teams scored nine in the frame, and Norway held a 33-29 advantage in the last eight minutes.

Senior AJ Gallino took the reins for the Knights’ offense in the fourth quarter, scoring six points. Baij added four, and sophomore Anthony Pineda tallied three.

Norway outscored the Jets 16-7 over the final eight minutes, securing the win.

The Knights’ five-game win streak was snapped by Forest Park earlier in the week. While they started slow on Friday, coach Gallino was happy with his team’s resiliency.

“Forest Park jumped on us right away, but we were able to rebound with the win tonight,” coach Gallino said.

Gorzinski led all scorers in the contest with 14 points.

North Central also received contributions from Ben Stage (5 points), Walters (7 points), Malone (6 points), and Eichhorn (4 points).

Trudeau’s 14 points paced Norway’s offense.

Norway also received contributions from AJ Gallino (10 points), Adams (12 points), Baij (10 points) and Pineda (4 points).

The Knights head to Bark River today to face the Broncos in an SCC battle. They close their 2024-25 regular season campaign on Thursday at home against Superior Central.

North Central ends its regular season schedule on Friday in Bark River.

TROJANS 80, BRONCOS 31

HARRIS — With the Skyline Central Conference-Small School title on the line, the Forest Park boys varsity basketball team hit the road to face Bark River-Harris on Friday.

The Trojans increased their win streak to 12 games in dominant fashion, topping the Broncos 80-31 to lock up the SCC crown.

Sophomore Izaiah Tarter led Forest Park’s attack with 24 points. He went 6-for-8 from 3-point land while recording four rebounds and two steals.

The Trojans opened up a six-point margin after the first quarter. They racked up 24 points in the second and took a 39-17 lead into halftime.

The break didn’t slow Forest Park down. In the third quarter, it outscored Bark River by nine points. The Trojans tallied 23 points in the final frame while stifling the Broncos’ offense, allowing five points.

Forest Park forced 17 turnovers on 15 steals and outrebounded Bark River 36-16.

The Trojans received contributions from Gabe Quevedo (6 assists, 2 steals), Dax Huuki (6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Matthew Showers (10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals), Aiden Waldo (6 rebounds, 5 assists), Vic Giuliani (20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals), Eli Brzonowski (2 points, 1 rebound) and Kevin Giuliani (18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists).

Forest Park has two regular season games remaining. It’s in Marquette on Tuesday and back home on Thursday against L’Anse.

NORDICS 87, WOLVES 36

CARNEY — Junior Ty King led all scorers in the contest with 23 points, and the North Dickinson boys varsity basketball team breezed to an 87-36 Skyline Central Conference-Small School win over Carney-Nadeau on Friday.

“We had a huge offensive night,” Nordics head coach Chris Mattson said. “Ty King with a game-high 23 points and Mason Anderson with a career-high, I believe, 19 points. He played very, very well offensively.

“We played fast and jumped on them in the first three quarters. The boys played unselfishly, and I’m pleased with their defensive effort.”

The Nordics’ offense was hitting on all cylinders in Carney in the first half. They made three 3-pointers while senior Mason Aderson racked up seven points. King added six and Trenton Kramer scored four. After eight minutes, the Wolves trailed 25-10.

It didn’t get better for Carney in the second quarter. The Wolves made five 3-pointers in the frame, but North Dickinson was on a mission. It leaned on King, who scored eight and increased the lead to 46-25 at the break.

The floodgates opened in the third quarter. Five Nordics made a 3-pointer, while King, Kramer, and Anderson all scored over six points. They racked up 33 points as a squad, and the lead was 45 points entering the fourth.

North Dickinson racked up 22 assists and 15 steals in the contest.

The Nordics received contributions from Lucas Steinbrecher (3 points), Trenton Kramer (12 points), Tyler Fleming (5 points), Brady Jungwirth (3 points), Colton Roberts (2 points), Anderson (19 points), Spencer Kramer (7 points), Richard Haney (3 points), Jason Graham (8 points) and Mason Florenski (2 points).

They wrap up their regular season slate with back-to-back road games. On Monday, the Nordics head to Rapid River; on Tuesday, they’re in L’Anse.

BADGERS 58, EAGLES 56

SURING, Wis. — The Niagara boys varsity basketball team has become accustomed to battling out close games.

On Friday, the Badgers found themselves in another one as they faced off with Suring in a Marinette & Oconto Conference clash. They leaned on senior Cameron Schiefelbein, who racked up 32 points and escaped Suring, Wis., with a 58-56 win.

The Eagles went to work in the first half from long range. They knocked down six 3-pointers in 18 minutes and built a 34-26 advantage at the break. Schiefelbein scored 15 points in the frame for Niagara, while fellow senior Dante Stachowicz pitched in nine.

In the second half, the Badgers held Suring to three 3-pointers and Schiefelbein feasted. He poured in 17 points in the frame, while Alex Tripp and Easton Holmes each added five.

They outscored the Eagles 32-22 in the final frame to lock up the win.

Niagara received offensive contributions from Tripp (7 points), Gavin Neuens (1 point), Stachowicz (11 points), Holmes (5 points) and Brayden Bartels (2 points).

The Badgers have four games left in their regular season schedule. They’re in Hannahville on Tuesday. They will be without senior Tommy Martin, who left the team prior to their Feb. 10 matchup with Florence.