Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press North Central’s Ian Gorzinski drives past Carney-Nadeau’s Brett LaFord (15) during Thursday’s game at Powers. Gorzinski led the Jets with 13 points.

POWERS — Any time Carney-Nadeau and North Central get together on the basketball court, it’s going to be a game of intensity. Thursday’s latest matchup in Powers was no exception, with the Jets doing just enough offensively behind an unlikely hero to upend the Wolves 46-41 in a Skyline Central Conference boys’ basketball tilt.

With the game tied 39-39 in the final minute, North Central senior Brien Gronmark knocked down his third triple of the night from the right wing, while also being fouled. His free throw completed a four-point play and gave the Jets a 43-39 advantage with 54 seconds left.

“(It felt) really good,” Gronmark said. “I just knew I had to get the shot up in time… I wasn’t expecting them to foul, and it was just awesome seeing it go through.”

Not only did Gronmark’s shot come at a crucial time, it also made the Jets’ lead feel bigger than it was in a contest that was a defensive struggle.

“Crucial, it was huge,” Jets’ coach Mike Malone said. “We always talk about not getting too nervous in the moment, and he’s one that does all the time. His brain goes 100 miles per hour and he has a hard time slowing it down, but he was able to slow it down for a shot. He set his feet, he released perfect and it was beautiful. It was huge, so huge. Big-time.”

Jerry Lee LaFord brought the Wolves within 44-41 after a pair of free throws with 27 ticks remaining. After Gronmark missed a pair from the charity stripe, Brett LaFord had a chance to tie the game with a pull-up 3-pointer, but his shot was just a tad too long and Ian Gorzinski iced the game at the free throw line.

The Wolves (2-1) missed numerous opportunities, going just 9 of 18 at the free throw line and missing open shots on the offensive end. They forced the Jets (2-0) into 23 turnovers with a full-court press, but couldn’t capitalize off of it.

“We missed a layup, we missed (nine) free throws, we missed open shots, and I don’t expect to make every open shot but you’d like to make 30 or 40 percent of them,” Wolves’ coach Paul Polfus said. “It just opens up other things when you make shots — the confidence level and all that kind of stuff that goes with it. I don’t know what to say about it more than that, you have to make shots to win games.”

The Wolves came out hot, scoring on their first three possessions to open the game on a 6-0 run. With North Central star Noah Gorzinski missing most of the second quarter being checked for an injury and stud freshman Luke Gorzinski missing nearly the entire second half in foul trouble before fouling out with 4:51 left in the game, one might have thought it just wasn’t the Jets’ night.

That simply wasn’t the case, as Ian Gorzinski stepped up to score 13 points in addition to Gronmark’s 10.

“That says a lot about the rest of the guys on the team,” Malone said. “As a collective (team), we defend one-through-ten. They played the best they can without their leaders in, and they stepped up tonight. They did just enough to get it done.”

Noah Gorzinski and Carter Eichmeier hit back-to-back triples at the end of the third quarter to put the Jets up 33-23. Carney responded with a quick 9-0 run to trim its deficit to 33-32 in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Jets’ defense rose to the challenge the rest of the way.

Brett LaFord led all scorers with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Mike Flanagan added 12 points for the Wolves, who host their holiday tournament Dec. 27-28.

The Jets, who won the jayvee game 60-14, host Bark River-Harris Monday at 7 p.m. EST. Prior to the game, former North Central stars Dawson Bilski and Jason Whitens will have their jerseys retired. At halftime, the Jets’ state championship teams from 2015-17 will be honored.

North Central’s girls team will not host Menominee prior, as previously scheduled. That game has been rescheduled for Jan. 7.

“It’s going to be fantastic. We have a couple kids coming back getting their jerseys retired, and it’s going to be a really fun night,” Malone said. “Plus, we’re playing a fanastic opponent. Bark River just beat Rapid (River), so I believe they’re going to bring the heat. We got to be ready to play.”

Carney-Nadeau 11 7 5 18 — 41

North Central 6 15 12 13 — 46

Carney-Nadeau — B. LaFord 16, Flanagan 12, Koffman 5, Baumler 5, J. LaFord 2, Kakuk 1. FT: 9-18; F: 20; Fouled out: Baumler. 3-point field goals: Flanagan 2.

North Central — I. Gorzinski 13, Gronmark 10, L. Gorzinski 8, Timblin 6, N. Gorzinski 3, Riley 3, Eichmeier 3. FT: 7-15; F: 19; Fouled out: L. Gorzinski. 3-point field goals: Gronmark 3, N. Gorzinski 1, Eichmeier 1.