Todd Rose | Daily Press North Central’s Gracie Kleikamp (14) shoots over Rapid River’s Natalie Belanger (left) Wednesday at North Central. Looking on for the Rockets is Cecilia Pilon (center right) and Zeta Keys (25), and looking on for the Jets is Shea LaCoursier (34) and Zoe LaBonte (30).

POWERS — A strong defensive performance gave the North Central Jets girls’ basketball team (3-6) a 51-36 win Wednesday night over the Rapid River Rockets (2-10) in Powers.

“Defensively, we were really tuned in tonight,” said Jets coach Pete Schlenvogt. “I think we played defense the way we want to play defense.”

In the first half — which ended 21-21 thanks to a run of six points from Rapid’s Cecilia Pilon — Schlenvogt noted the Jets executed well on defense but couldn’t capitalize on offense.

The third quarter was a different story for the Jets, however, as they held the Rockets to just two points while netting 14 of their own.

“We didn’t finish the (first) half the way we’d been practicing and taking care of the ball,” said Schlenvogt. “In the third quarter, we came out, and the defense just clamped right down.”

Andie Arsenault (23 points, 10 steals) and Gracie Kleikapmp (18 points, 10 rebounds) both earned double-doubles, anchoring the Jets’ offensive and defensive efforts. The 18 was a career-high scoring effort for Kleikamp.

Another impressive defensive effort for the Jets came from Talia LaFave.

“That was the best I’ve seen her play,” said Schlenvoght. “She came out of her shell tonight. Some aggression came out. She went after the ball, she boxed out, she rebounded, got some steals … I was real proud of her and how she played tonight.”

Schlenvogt also mentioned Ashtyn Smith’s effort as another factor in the victory.

“We’ve played good quarters, and we’ve played good halves,” said Schlenvogt. “But tonight, for the most part, we did the best job of putting a whole game together.”

For the Rockets, the loss came down to the level of intensity brought by the Jets according to coach Scott Goodacre.

“They were just more aggressive than us,” Goodacre said. “We’re just going through growing pains because they’re not doing things together yet.”

Pilon led the Rockets with 13 points, six coming off steals in the last 32 seconds of the first half.

“(It was a) great effort from Cece Pilon,” said Goodacre. “She was very aggressive. She was All-Defensive Team for us last year. She’s following the same footsteps she did last year.”

Pilon had seven steals. Natalie Belanger also hit double digits with 10 points.

“I think we were a little cold with our shooting,” Goodacre stated. “But, we could barely get shots off because they were so aggressive with the ball. I think that made us a little shy pulling the trigger.”

The Rockets play Bark River-Harris in Rapid River tonight. As it is the last home game for the Rockets, it will be Senior Night. North Central heads to Crystal Falls to play Forest Park on Friday.

Rapid River 6 15 2 13 —  36

North Central 10 11 14 16 — 51

Rapid River — Pilon 13, Belanger 10, Thibault 4, Semear 3, Dausey 2, Keys 2, Stemick 1, Nelson 1; F:14; FT: 9-16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Semear.

North Central — Arsenault 23, Kleikamp 18, LaFave 4, Smith 3, LaCoursier 3; F: 20; FT: 15-19; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Kleikamp 3, Arsenault 3.