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Rockets snap seven-game losing skid with win over Nordics

RAPID RIVER — It was Rapid River’s night Monday as it snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 53-40 girls’ basketball triumph over the North Dickinson Nordics.

Rapid River led 36-28 after the third quarter and sank just enough free throws in the fourth to keep the Nordics at bay. The Rockets finished 10-of-24 from the line.

“North Dickinson is aggressive,” said Rockets’ coach Tony Perino. “That’s a good team. They beat Forest Park by 20 points last week and we lost to them. They (Nordics) have two fantastic guards. We knew they’d be tough.”

The Nordics were within 28-23 early in the third quarter of this Skyline Central Conference match-up.

Rapid River responded with six unanswered points, gaining a 34-23 cushion on a 15-foot jump shot by freshman guard Gabby Moss with three minutes, 21 seconds left in the third.

The Rockets didn’t allow the Nordics to get any closer than eight points through the remainder of the contest.

“We changed some things on defense and the girls kept working,” said Perino. “We were getting in the right spots for rebounds and did a lot of the little things we hadn’t been doing.”

The Nordics took an early 6-2 lead on a running 12-foot jumper by junior guard Brianna Smith.

Rapid River answered with a 10-0 run, taking a 12-6 lead following back-to-back 3-point shots by junior guard Kristin Goodacre late in the opening frame.

The Rockets (4-9 overall, 4-8 SCC) led 22-8 with 2:36 left in the second stanza before the Nordics began to whittle away at their deficit.

Moss finished with a career-high 17 points. Sophomore center Natalie Belanger added 14 and Goodacre had 10.

“We told the girls it takes just one win to turn things around,” said Perino. “We had a good three-prong attack with Gabby, Kristin and Natalie. Kristin is the engine that makes it go and she presents problems for other teams. Gabby had a great game and Jenna Rubick, Kristin and Gabby did a nice job taking the ball inside. We told Gabby we wanted her to take 12-15 shots minimum.”

Moss drained 7-of-14 field goals for the Rockets, who shot 37 percent from the field and committed 24 turnovers. The Nordics (8-9 overall, 7-8 league) hit 14-of-53 field goals and had 17 miscues.

“Our defense presented some problems for them,” said Perino. “I couldn’t be happier with the way our girls played, although we let up a little in the end. They also played some good defense. I thought they did a good job containing Natalie in the third quarter.”

The Rockets, who also won the jayvee contest 41-32, host Munising Thursday. The Nordics host fourth-ranked Carney-Nadeau Thursday.

North Dickinson 8 12 8 14 — 40

Rapid River 12 16 8 17 — 53

North Dickinson — B. Smith 14, Hord 16, K. Smith 8, Ledzian 2. FT: 10-15; F: 22; Fouled out: Ledzian; 3-point field goals: B. Smith, Hord.

Rapid River — Thibault 2, Moss 17, Goodacre 10, Rubick 2, Belanger 14, Schwartz 4, Christianson 4. FT: 10-24; F: 15; Fouled out: Schwartz; 3-point field goals: Moss, Goodacre, Belanger, Schwartz.

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