North Central senior Kate Linder (right) looks to make a move against Rapid River senior Emma Sundling on Feb. 13, 2025 at Rapid River School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

RAPID RIVER — Powers North Central’s girls have waited all season for this.

The wait is over.

North Central earned its first basketball victory in 17 games by defeating the Rapid River Rockets 36-25 here Thursday night.

“Our girls have worked hard all year,” Jets’ coach Brooke Granquist said. “To finish this one off, they’re happy and I’m happy for them. They play well in practice, but had trouble closing out games. We had a conversation about that at halftime and it really showed. Seeing them play the second half the same way as they do in practice makes me very happy. I’m very excited for them.”

The Rockets led 16-14 at halftime in this Skyline Central Conference contest.

Freshman Addison Otradovec drained a 20-foot jump shot from the left wing to put the Jets in front 17-16 early in the third quarter.

A 10-foot set shot and putback by junior Dalyn Otradovec stretched North Central’s lead to 23-16 halfway through the third quarter.

Addison Otradovec then added a putback and Dalyn split a pair of free throws to put the Jets up 26-16 with two minutes remaining in the third.

North Central gained a 30-18 advantage on Dalyn’s contested set shot in the closing moments of the third and junior Maycee Murray made it 32-18 on a 15-foot set shot early in the fourth.

With less than three minutes to play, Dalyn Otradovec gave the Jets an insurmountable 36-22 cushion on a lay-in, set up on a pass from freshman Natalie Willa.

“I don’t ever relax during games,” Granquist said. “Even with a double-digit lead, it can change in a hurry. It was so close at Norway and Superior Central, then we came up short. We were ahead until the last couple minutes at Norway (in a 43-33 loss).”

Willa split two free throws to give the Jets an 8-5 lead with 90 seconds left in the opening frame.

The Rockets tied the score at eight before the first quarter ended, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second.

Dalyn Otradovec scored 17 points and Addison Otradovec added nine for North Central. Senior Emma Sundling led Rapid River with eight.

The Jets committed 14 turnovers and the Rockets had 22.

Rapid River (3-12) hosts Felch North Dickinson Monday and North Central (1-16) hosts Bark River-Harris Tuesday.

Box score

North Central 8 6 16 6 — 36

Rapid River 8 8 2 7 — 25

Powers North Central — A. Otradovec 9, D. Otradovec 17, Murray 6, Willa 4. FT: 6-10; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goal: D. Otradovec

Rapid River — Thompson 2, Sundling 8, Poma 3, Beauchaine 5, Olson 7. FT: 5-9; F: 10; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Sundling 1, Olson 1