ST. NICHOLAS — Who put that lid on the basket?

The Rapid River and Rock Mid Peninsula struggled to find the range for three quarters in a Central U.P. Conference boys’ basketball contest here Monday.

Rapid Rapid then found its shooting touch in the fourth frame, surging to a 49-32 triumph over the Wolverines.

The Rockets led 15-12 at halftime and 29-22 after the third stanza en route to snapping a four-game losing streak.

“Our defense was very good throughout the game,” Rockets’ coach Brent Lundquist said. “We attacked the basket a lot more in the second half. We told the guys Mid Pen was fast and aggressive. Our guys have been in games like that and in some cases didn’t come out on top. They knew what they had to do.”

Junior Rowen Flath carried the Rockets early in the fourth quarter, hitting a layup, two free throws and a jump shot from top of the key for a 36-22 cushion.

A pair of layups and a free throw by junior Jae Poma then hiked Rapid River’s advantage to 46-25 with three minutes remaining.

“I thought we played very well for three quarters,” Mid Pen coach Carl Brunngraber said. “We had some mental breakdowns in the fourth. It’s really hard for them. We have a lot of younger guys, but you’ve got to keep your composure. You’ve got to enjoy it. They’ve got to learn to be easier on themselves. It’s not like the NBA where you have to be hard on yourself.”

Junior Jaykob Dahm split a pair of free throws to bring the Wolverines within 15-13 early in the second stanza.

Rapid River answered with an 8-0 run, extending its lead to 23-13 on a layup Flath midway through the third.

Mid Pen shaved its deficit to 27-22 on an underhand layup by Dahm with 50 seconds remaining in the third frame.

Junior Jake Fox then put the Rockets (3-4 overall, 1-0 CUP) back up by seven points on a layup with three seconds left in the third, setting the stage for their fourth-quarter surge.

Sophomore Lewis Holmes gave Mid Pen (1-5 overall, 1-1 league) its only lead at 7-6 on a free throw more than three minutes into the second.

“Credit to them,” Lundquist said. “They bring it to you. They’re very well coached. It’s a very dangerous situation. Mid Pen had a lot of young guys last year. They did good to weather the storm a little bit. This is a huge boost for us. We were on a four-game skid.”

Poma scored 13 points and Fox added 12 for the Rockets, who committed 17 turnovers.

Junior Cyler Brunngraeber hit 10 points for the Wolverines, who finished with 20 miscues.

“Rapid River played good defense,” coach Brunngraeber said.

The Rockets, who also won the jayvee game 56-37, are entered in next week’s Carney-Nadeau Holiday tournament where they face the host Wolves Monday. Mid Pen is idle until Jan. 6 when it travels to Stephenson.

Rapid River 4 11 14 20 — 49

Mid Peninsula 4 8 10 10 — 32

Rapid River — Poma 13, Kee 5, Olson 7, Flath 9, Fox 12, Duerson 3. FT: 7-12; F: 19; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Poma, Kee, Flath, Duerson.

Rock Mid Peninsula — Cyler Brunngraeber 10, Dahm 9, Roberts 8, S. Holmes 1, VanDamme 2, L. Holmes 2. FT: 9-14; F: 17; Fouled out: S. Holmes; 3-point field goals: Cyler Brunngraeber 2, Dahm.