RAPID RIVER — An 8-0 run proved to be just enough for the Superior Central girls as they posted a 29-24 basketball triumph over the Rapid River Rockets here Tuesday night.

The Cougars trailed 20-16 late in the third quarter of this Central U.P. Conference match-up.

Junior Peyton Adams hit a layup on a pass from senior Marissa Strohm and added an eight-foot jumper to give the Cougars a 21-20 lead early in the fourth.

Strohm then split a pair of free throws and scored on a layup to put them up 24-20 in a contest which both teams followed a deliberate approach on offense.

This was the second low-scoring game between the teams this season. The Cougars also won the first meeting 15-10 at Eben Junction Dec. 22.

“They’ve improved a lot since the beginning of the season,” Cougars’ coach Skip Rutter said. “They’re a completely different team. They’re playing well.”

The Rockets shaved their deficit to 24-22 on a 15-foot jump shot by sophomore guard Victoria Coppock midway through the fourth quarter.

Superior Central, however, didn’t relinquish the lead.

“Compared to the first time this is an improvement,” Rockets’ coach Katie Poma said. “We were down four girls tonight. We had two sick and two injured, although that’s not an excuse. The girls battle to the end. They do their best.”

A 20-foot set shot by Strohm gave the Cougars a 7-2 lead with 2:44 left in the opening frame.

The Rockets closed within 7-6 on a pair of gifters by senior forward Aubrey Olson with 44.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter and sophomore guard Kaylee Tyler gave Rapid River an 8-7 lead on a jumper from the boulevard 29 seconds into the second stanza.

It stayed that way for more than five minutes when Adams drained a 20-foot jumper from the right wing to put the Cougars in front 10-8

The score was tied 10-10 at halftime.

Rapid River regained the lead on a 14-foot set shot by Olson early in the third.

The lead changed hands until freshman guard Julia Poma gave the Rockets an 18-16 lead on a five-foot jumper with 35 seconds remaining in the third.

Rapid River then gained its four-point lead before the Cougars surged to their fifth victory in their regular-season finale.

Adams scored 15 points and Strohm added seven for the Cougars (5-12), who committed 20 turnovers.

They will take a two-game winning streak into Monday’s Division 4 district opener on their home floor against the Rockets (5-14).

“Peyton missed six weeks with a knee injury, but is coming around nicely,” Rutter said. “Marissa distributed the ball pretty well and Kianna Perron and Marlene Johnson played good defense. We gave them a handful of points on bad decisions, but our defense was good for the most part.”

Olson hit 10 points and junior forward Kellyn Gustafson scored six for the Rockets, who will try to snap a five-game losing streak in Thursday’s home game against Powers North Central.

Rapid River, which had 21 miscues and hit 10-of-36 field goals Tuesday, end their regular season at Engadine Friday.

Superior Central 7 3 7 12 — 29

Rapid River 6 4 10 4 — 24

Superior Central — Adams 15, Strohm 7, A. Frusti 4, Kroupa 3. FT: 6-16; F: 6; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Adams, Strohm, A. Frusti.

Rapid River — Tyler 2, Gustafson 6, Beauchaine 2, Coppock 2, Poma 2, Olson 10. FT: 4-6; F: 16; Fouled out: None.