RAPID RIVER — A strong fourth quarter by senior Caraghan Thill was enough to help the Big Bay de Noc girls break away for a 50-26 basketball victory over the Rapid River Rockets here Thursday night.

The Rapid River boys also benefitted from a fourth-quarter surge in a 59-38 triumph over the Black Bears.

Thill scored 12 of her 25 points in the final eight minutes in this Central U.P. Conference match-up.

The Rockets hung around the neighborhood into the fourth frame, pulling with 31-23 on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Kaylee Tyler.

Big Bay responded with 15 unanswered points, gaining an insurmountable 46-23 advantage on a putback by sophomore Destiny Bleau midway through the fourth.

Thill also made her presence known during that run, converting three straight steals into layups and adding a pair while helping the Black Bears build their cushion.

“Caraghan was on fire,” Big Bay coach Bob Pederson said. “Play got physical and she got pushed around a little bit. She got a little frustrated, but responded in the fourth quarter.”

Big Bay led 15-6 after the opening frame and extended its lead to 17-6 on a layup by Bleau.

Rapid River trimmed its deficit to 19-10 on a floater from the lane by junior center Sarah Beauchaine midway through the second stanza.

A layup by Thill gave the Black Bears a 23-10 cushion with 1:47 left in the second.

Junior guard Saylor Carlson shaved Rapid River’s deficit to 23-13 on a jump shot from top of the key before Big Bay added a hoop to take a 12-point advantage into the halftime locker room.

The Rockets were within 27-19 following a 19-foot jumper by freshman guard Julia Poma with 3:05 remaining in the third quarter.

Big Bay, which scored the next four points, led 31-21 after the third.

“The kids did a lot of good things,” Rockets’ coach Katie Poma said. “I think the Carney-Nadeau tournament made us a better team. When you play out-of-state teams, you have nothing to lose. We had (former Rockets’ coach) Jon Miller come in and help us a few times. He talked to the girls about valuing the ball. I’m so thankful for the help from Jon, (husband) Rich and my brother-in-law.”

Bleau finished with 13 points for the Black Bears, who committed 22 turnovers.

The Rockets, who had 25 miscues, were led by Carlson’s 10 points.

“Our shots were off in the first half,” Pederson said. “We talked about winning by using our defense. We only had a seven-person rotation. We’re going to rely on defense. We handled their half-court trap and played pretty well in the second half. They’re much improved. For three quarters the game could have gone either way.”

Poma also gave the Black Bears their due.

“We tried to pick up the tempo, but their defense was real good,” she said. “They’ve been playing together for a long time.”

The Rapid River boys held a seemingly-comfortable 46-22 advantage midway through the third stanza, but were whistled for two bench technicals during the remainder of that frame.

Big Bay responded with 14 unanswered points, climbing within 46-36 on a lay-in by sophomore Tanner Peterson early in the fourth.

The Rockets answered with a 9-0 run, extending their advantage to 55-36 on a layup by junior guard Jake Fox on a pass from junior forward Rowen Flath with 2½ minutes remaining.

“We rotated some guys and put some in who don’t play varsity ball too often,” Rockets’ coach Brent Lundquist said. “It was a good test for our starters to come back in to see if they could regain the tempo again. The guys on the bench kept trying to motivate the younger guys. We had no point guard out there at that time. I told them not to hang their heads. They did the best they could.”

The Rockets ended the first quarter on a 19-foot jumper by junior guard Kaden Duerson for a 20-11 cushion and extended their lead to 33-16 on a steal and layup by Fox 20 seconds before halftime.

Their advantage grew to 24 points with 5:04 left in the third frame when junior guard Jae Poma split a pair of free throws.

“Offensively, we were struggling to get shots,” Big Bay coach Gunnar Mickelson said. “Although, they did a good job on defense, holding us to one shot. We had a hard time seeing over the top of them when they were in their half-court trap.

Flath was Rapid River’s scoring leader with 15 points. Poma added 14 and Fox chipped in with 12.

“We had no answer for him (Flath),” Mickelson added. “He’s a big guy who can play inside and outside.”

Parker Pederson hit 21 points for the Black Bears, who committed 28 turnovers and host Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter Monday and Mackinac Island Tuesday.

Rapid River finished with 26 miscues.

The Rapid River boys travel to Powers North Central Monday and the girls visit Hannahville Tuesday.

BOYS

Big Bay de Noc 11 5 15 7 — 38

Rapid River 20 13 13 13 — 59

Big Bay de Noc — Gembel 3, Lotz 2, Cooper 3, Pederson 21, Peterson 9. FT: 10-19; F: 14; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Cooper, Peterson.

Rapid River — Edwardsen 2, Poma 14, Olson 3, Flath 15, Closs 4, Fox 12, Duerson 3, Holmio 2. FT: 10-15; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Poma 2, Kee, Flath, Duerson.

GIRLS

Big Bay de Noc 15 10 6 19 — 50

Rapid River 6 7 8 5 — 26

Big Bay de Noc — Bleau 13, Pederson 8, Durrance 4, Thill 25. FT: 4-12; F: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Pederson 2.

Rapid River — Tyler 4, Beauchaine 8, Carlson 10, Poma 2, Olson 2. FT: 6-12; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Carlson 2.