SPALDING — Powers North Central girls showed signs of improvement, but came up short in a 57-39 basketball loss to the Stephenson Eagles here Tuesday night.

Stephenson led 11-8 after the first quarter and 34-18 at halftime.

“We absolutely played better than in our first game (a 63-21 loss to Florence, Wis. Dec. 7),” Jets’ coach Brooke Granquist said. “We came ready to play and played with more confidence. We had more drive tonight.”

Melissa Johnson, who drained four 3-point shots, led the Eagles with 18 points. Alayna Strahl added 13 and Adria Ruleau and Mattie Prestin had 11 apiece. Gracie Kleikamp paced the Jets with 15. Dalyn Otradovec scored 11.

“We didn’t give up,” Granquist said. “We played hard all night. Gracie played well. Dalyn (Otradovec) got better position under the basket. She got a lot of rebounds and Laila (Kleikamp) did well establishing the tempo.”

The Jets travel to Munising Friday. The Eagles host Chassell tonight.

Stephenson 11 23 9 14 — 57

North Central 8 10 11 10 — 39

Stephenson — Cappaert 2, Ruleau 11, Vista 2, Prestin 11, Johnson 18, Strahl 13. FT: 12-20; F; 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Johnson 4, Ruleau

North Central — Linder 4, Burton 1, G. Kleikamp 15, D. Otradovec 11, L. Kleikamp 6, A. Otradovec 2. FT: 5-12; F: 15; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: C. Kleikamp, L. Kleikamp.