Dennis Mansfield | Iron Mountain Daily News The Carney-Nadeau basketball team celebrates after defeating Superior Central in Kingsford Tuesday during an MHSAA Division 4 regional opener.

KINGSFORD — A fourth-quarter time-out helped jumpstart Carney-Nadeau’s offense here Tuesday night in a 55-33 girls’ basketball triumph over Superior Central in a Division 4 regional opener.

The victory enables the second-ranked Wolves (22-1) to return to the Kingsford High School gym to face top-ranked Baraga (21-1) in the championship game Thursday at 7 p.m. (EST) in a match-up of contrasting styles. The Cougars finished 14-8.

Baraga advanced with a 50-29 victory over Ontonagon (15-8).

Sophomore Kelsie Smith fouled out with five minutes, 17 seconds left in the contest, leaving the Wolves with just five players and prompting them to use the time-out.

“We were slowing it doing and spreading it out as we should be doing, then we started standing around,” said C-N coach Ken Linder. “We told the girls we still needed to be aggressive. We needed to cut through the lane and get layups.”

The Cougars were within 42-31 following a floater by senior Emma Rutter with 4:25 remaining.

Senior Tessa Wagner answered with a lay-in and two putbacks, extending the Wolves’ lead to 48-31 with 2:37 left. She finished with 30 points.

“Tessa did a good job tonight,” said Linder. “She was very efficient. “We got those three baskets, and that pretty much put it away. They scored a few buckets early in the fourth quarter and put pressure on us.”

The Cougars got their last points on a four-foot jump shot by senior Riley Johnson, making it 49-33.

“We didn’t quit, and I’m proud of the girls for that,” said Cougars’ coach Skip Rutter. “We thought Smith fouling out would hurt them, but they played through it, which is good for them. Tessa does a nice job down there. She’s strong and hard to move, and their guards keep you on your toes. They’re a very good team.”

The Cougars got an early 4-1 lead on a running five-foot jumper by junior Maddie Begovac.

C-N responded with an 11-1 run, gaining a 15-5 lead on a set shot from the boulevard by Wagner.

Johnson drained a 20-foot jumper from the left wing to bring the Cougars within 17-11 midway through the second.

The Wolves outscored the Cougars 15-5 through the remainder of the second, taking a 32-16 advantage 3.3 seconds before halftime when freshman Grace Maule split a pair of free throws.

Maule added a 15-foot set shot for a 34-16 cushion early in the third.

The Cougars responded with an 8-2 run, trimming their deficit to 36-24 on Begovac’s set shot from the right corner with 3:20 remaining in the third.

C-N led 42-25 after the third stanza before the Cougars scored the first six points in the fourth.

Maule scored 12 points, and senior Carley Messersmith added 10 for the Wolves, who committed 10 turnovers.

Begovac led the Cougars with 10, and Johnson had nine. They ended with 15 miscues.

“I’m proud of our seniors,” said coach Rutter. “The future’s bright. They set the standard for the younger girls. Our district win (55-47 over Munising) was a big one for sure. Overall, it was a good season. I’m super proud of the girls.”

Baraga was too quick for Ontonagon in Tuesday’s opener, forcing 19 turnovers.

Senior Reide Osterman led the Vikings with 14 points. Junior Kylie Michaelson and sophomore Makenna Hendrickson hit 11 apiece, and Junior Cori Jahfetson had 10. They had 11 miscues.

Junior Makennah Uotila scored 10 for the Gladiators.

Superior Central 5 11 9 8 — 33

Carney-Nadeau 13 19 10 13 — 55

Superior Central — Augustyn 1, Rutter 6, Begovac 10, Johnson 9, Rondeau 2, Johnson 5. FT: 7-18; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Begovac 2, Johnson.

Carney-Nadeau — Wagner 30, Messersmith 10, Smith 1, Laurila 2, Maule 12. FT: 10-16; F: 15; Fouled out: Smith; 3-point field goal: Messersmith.