Rockets blow past Jets
RAPID RIVER — Seniors led the way for the Rapid River girls here Thursday night in a 52-42 basketball triumph over the North Central Jets.
They contributed 43 to the Rockets scoring in this Skyline Central Conference match-up, led by Natalie Belanger’s 18 points to go with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Two of Belanger’s blocks came late in the contest while the Rockets were protecting a 50-42 lead.
Emily Goodacre added 10 points, and sophomore Megan Dausey had nine points and nine boards.
“Megan had a real solid game, and our guards are working hard on our press,” said Rockets’ coach Scott Goodacre. “What I like about our zone press is it gets the girls going a little faster. I wasn’t sure we were going to press, but I thought we could create some opportunities. Although, I thought they handled our press pretty good at times.”
The contest was tied at 22 at halftime. It remained that way until Belanger scored on a putback and gave the Rockets a 24-22 lead slightly more than three minutes into the third quarter.
Rapid River pushed its lead to 33-25 on a 10-foot set shot by Dausey late in the third and led 35-28 going into the fourth.
The Jets were within 40-36 following an 8-foot set shot by Ashley Neuens with 5:17 remaining.
Rapid River responded with a 10-1 run, gaining a 50-37 advantage on a layup by Belanger.
North Central, putting on a little bit of pressure of its own, trimmed its deficit to 50-42 on a pair of free throws by senior Andie Arsenault with 2:09 left.
“Their zone press is something we had to see,” said Jets’ coach Pete Schlenvogt. “It kept us from pushing the ball up the court. They contained us pretty well. We didn’t shoot well at all tonight. Putting the ball through the hole is our strength. Everybody on our team can shoot. The ball just didn’t go in for any of us.”
The Rockets led 15-10 after the first quarter and led 20-14 following Emily Goodacre’s set shot from the lane midway through the second.
Rapid River still led 22-18 after Belanger’s six-foot set shot with 53 seconds left in the second.
Arsenault then sank a pair of free throws to bring the Jets within 22-20 and tied the score on a layup 4 1/2 seconds before the intermission.
“I thought we had some momentum at halftime,” said Schlenvogt. “We were a little frantic in the first quarter. We didn’t react to their press the way we should, and the next three quarters. It was an uphill battle.”
Arsenault scored 13 points for the Jets, who committed 11 of their 15 turnovers in the first half. The Rockets had 21 miscues.
“Our ball movement needs a little work,” said coach Goodacre. “We also need to give our underclassmen a little better rotation. Overall, I thought we gave a real good effort.”
Rapid River (2-2 overall and SCC) hosts North Dickinson Monday. North Central (1-2 overall and league) visits Norway tonight at 6:30 (EST).
North Central 10 12 6 14 — 42
Rapid River 15 7 13 17 — 52
North Central — Burton 2, LaFave 4, Neuens 7, Kleikamp 8, Arsenault 13, LaBonte 4, LaCoursier 4. FT: 8-17; F: 15; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Kleikamp 2, Neuens, Arsenault.
Rapid River — Pilon 8, Dausey 9, Goodacre 10, Keys 5, Poore 2, Belanger 18. FT: 11-26; F: 14; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Goodacre 2, Dausey.