CARNEY — The Rapid River girls tried to control the pace, but couldn’t keep up with a more experienced basketball team here Wednesday, dropping a 47-21 decision to Niagara, Wis. in the Carney-Nadeau Holiday Classic title game.

Rapid River, which elected to take the air out of the ball, trailed 6-2 after the first quarter.

The Rockets then couldn’t buy a bucket most of the second stanza and trailed 24-4 at halftime.

Freshman guard Julia Poma sank a 12-foot jump shot to open the third frame, but the Rockets still trailed 24-6.

“The effort’s there,” first-year Rockets’ coach Katie Poma said. “We’re learning new things. We need to learn how to come out a little more aggressive offensively. The girls work hard. We have open gyms twice a week and they’re looking for opportunities to get better. Niagara has a lot of experience. They’ve had the same coaches for 12 years. It’s one little step at a time. We need to know how to value the ball.”

The Badgers led 40-10 after a lay-in by senior Alivia Kleikamp with 5:18 left in the game.

Rapid River responded with nine unanswered points, shaving its deficit to 40-19 on Poma’s 18-foot jumper, but it was far too little, too late.

Junior Sydney Swanson led the Badgers with 18 points. Kleikamp finished with 10. Sophomore guard Kaylee Tyler was Rapid River’s leader with seven.

The Rockets (2-3) committed 30 turnovers and the Badgers (4-4) had 15.

C-N improved to 2-3 with a 43-32 triumph over Goodman-Pembine, Wis. in the consolation game.

The Wolves gained a 32-16 advantage on a steal and layup by freshman Mckenna Thiry late in the third quarter.

Senior Jolie Seidel split a pair of free throws to bring the Patriots (3-3) within 32-20 early in the fourth.

C-N answered with a 9-4 run, extending its lead to 41-24 on a steal and layup by seventh-grader Bailey Corrigan with less than 2 ½ minutes remaining.

“This is a good win,” Wolves’ coach Paul Polfus said. “We made a few more shots than the first time (in a 37-33 loss Dec. 16). I thought the effort was good. Our (man-to-man) defense picked up. I thought we did a better job switching than in the first game.”

Thiry and sophomore Jayden Laurin led the Wolves with nine points each. Eighth-grader Carolina Corrigan finished with eight. Seidel was G-P’s leader with 17.

C-N finished with 23 turnovers and the Patriots committed 46.

Wednesday’s victory enabled the Wolves to bounce back from Tuesday’s 57-28 loss to Niagara.

The Wolves had 18 miscues against the Badgers. Niagara had 12.

“We have to try to stay away from the ones that are unforced,” Polfus said. “Their size and experience really hurt us.”

Kleikamp scored 21 points and Swanson tallied 14 for the Badgers.

The Wolves, who have no upperclassmen, started two sophomores, a freshman, an eight-grader and a seventh-grader. Laurin paced C-N with nine points. Carolina and Aubrey Corrigan added eight apiece.

They visit Bark River-Harris tonight at 6. The Badgers visit Crivitz, Wis. tonight.

Junior guard Saylor Carlson scored 11 points and senior forward Aubrey Olson added eight to lead Rapid River past Goodman-Pembine 35-32. Freshman Ember Sponholz had 11 for the Patriots, who had 32 turnovers. The Rockets, who visit Stephenson Monday, finished with 26.

Rapid River 2 4 4 11 — 21

Niagara 6 18 10 23 — 57

Rapid River — Tyler 7, Coppock 2, Carlson 2, Poma 6, Olson 4. FT: 4-6; F: 17; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goal: Tyler.

Niagara — Payette 3, J. Kleikamp 5, Sanicki 9, Swanson 19, A. Kleikamp 10. FT: 10-18; F: 12; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Payette, Sanicki, Swanson.