CARNEY — It was one of those nights which the Carney-Nadeau boys were thankful to have a big cushion to work with here Wednesday.

The Wolves, who led by 26 points (38-12) late in the second quarter, needed nearly all of it in this Skyline Central Conference basketball match-up as they hung on for a 56-50 victory.

“I thought we passed the ball well in the first half, then we got cold fingers in the second half,” said C-N coach Paul Polfus. “We didn’t do a very good job guarding their pick and roll, and our offense stagnated. I think we should have switched defenses. I felt we had some good looks but didn’t put the ball through the hoop.”

The Cougars climbed within 54-50 on a pair of free throws by senior Parker Maki with 32.8 seconds left to play.

Senior forward Beau Koffman then drained a pair of gifters with 20.3 seconds remaining to secure C-N’s fourth straight victory.

“We had to do something better than in the first half,” said Cougars’ coach Adam Ely. “We’re trying to turn our program around, and we just played with more pride in the second half. We picked up our energy and intensity.”

The Wolves (4-3 overall, 3-3 SCC) still led 45-21 following junior guard Jerry Lee LaFord’s 21-foot set shot from the right wing midway through the third stanza.

Superior Central then began to whittle away at its deficit and got within 48-35 on Maki’s buzzer-beating 20-foot jump shot from the right wing.

Sophomore forward Brayden Kakuk led off the fourth with a steal and layup, putting the Wolves up 50-35.

The Cougars (1-3 overall and league) responded with a 9-0 run, with senior Kyle Frusti splitting a pair of free throws to trim their deficit to 50-44 with 4:27 remaining.

C-N was up 54-46 following a pair of gifters by Koffman with two minutes left.

The Cougars made it 54-48 on two free throws by junior Garrett Koski at 1:38 but were unable to get closer than four points.

C-N hit 20-of-55 field goals, including 14-of-28 in the first half.

“After they (Cougars) got some baskets, they gained some confidence,” said Polfus. “At times we still moved the ball well and not so well at other times. We did a little too much dribbling. I think the kids got a little frustrated, and I probably could have coached a little better. It was 50/50, part of the blame on them and part of it on me.”

Koffman finished with 21 points, and junior guard Peyton Imhoff and Kakuk added nine apiece.

Frusti hit 25 points, and Maki had 18 for the Cougars, who committed 22 turnovers. The Wolves had 13 miscues.

“Our goal is to get it (turnovers) under 10,” said Ely. “We’re learning a new system. Turnovers tend to be high when you do that. Kyle (Frusti) plays basketball like he plays football. He’s a physical guy who provides a presence inside. Everyone is bigger than us. It was not a bad thing to someone who doesn’t have more size than we do. We’re pleased with the effort in the second half. Only, we need to do that for the whole game.”

The Wolves, who also won the jayvee game 52-30, visit Forest Park Friday. The Cougars host Gwinn Friday.

Superior Central 4 10 21 15 — 50

Carney-Nadeau 17 21 10 8 — 56

Superior Central — Maki 18, McLaury 1, K. Frusti 25, Z. Frusti 4, Koski 2. FT: 12-15; F: 14; Fouled out: Z. Frusti; 3-point field goals: Maki 2.

Carney-Nadeau — Flanagan 6, Hodson 4, Koffman 21, Maier 2, Windsor 2, Imhoff 9, LaFord 3, Kakuk 9. FT: 7-15; F: 12; Fouled out: Kakuk; 3-point field goals: Imhoff 3, Koffman 2, Flanagan 2, LaFord, Kakuk.