Big Bay girls hang on, tip Jets
GARDEN CORNERS — The Big Bay de Noc girls held their composure when it mattered the most Friday night as they escaped with a 50-48 basketball victory over the North Central Jets.
Big Bay trailed by three points with 90 seconds left in the Skyline Central Conference match-up.
“We put a quick press on them, got a couple turnovers and tied the score,” said Big Bay coach Brad McPhee.
North Central missed two shots in the final nine seconds.
“It was a battle back and forth,” said Jets’ coach Nikki Laurila. “We had the lead going into the fourth quarter (37-34). We should have been more patient in the end. We made a couple mental mistakes and Big Bay was able to capitalize.”
Big Bay’s Marissa Rochefort sank 4-of-6 free throws, including her last three, in the final stanza.
“That was pretty clutch,” said McPhee. “It seemed like we calmed down just enough in the fourth quarter to not shoot ourselves in the foot. The struggle with our crew is they get down on themselves so easily. Hopefully, we’re turning the corner a little bit this year with them playing hard. It is a delicate balance right now. They didn’t cave in at the very end, but they dug down and found that little bit extra.”
Holli Stapleton led Big Bay (2-1 overall and league) with 20 points. Brooke Dalgord added 16.
“They (Big Bay) played tough,” said Laurila. “The Dalgord girl is real good. I thought we played well, only we could have tightened down our defense a little more.”
Jadie Linder, who hit all seven of her free throws, paced the Jets (1-3 overall and league) with 17 points. Mady Wells had 11.
North Central, which won the jayvee game 54-25, visits Stephenson Tuesday. Big Bay hosts Bark River-Harris Tuesday.
North Central 10 12 15 11 — 48
Big Bay de Noc 9 17 8 16 — 50
North Central — Laurila 2, Debelak 9, Plunger 1, M. Wells 11, Linder 17, C. Wells 8. FT: 12-15; F: 20; Fouled out: None.
Big Bay de Noc — McPhee 2, Sefcik 4, Dalgord 16, Rochefort 8, Stapleton 20. FT: 16-26; F: 17; Fouled out: Stapleton.