ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon Gladiators were a quarter away from pulling off an upset against the Dollar Bay Blue Bolts. Ontonagon led 37-27 going into the fourth quarter before Dollar Bay rallied back to outscore the Gladiators 18-3 to earn a 45-40 nonconference win Thursday in Ontonagon.

“I’m proud of the guys for grinding out another tough win in another tough environment,” Dollar Bay coach Jesse Kentala said. “Ontonagon had a good game plan to limit (Devin) Schmitz, but it ultimately just came down to us not making shots. I’ve been around these guys a long time and I’ve never seen us shoot the ball that poorly.”

Schmitz and Jacob Iacono led the way with 13 points, each, while Jaden Janke added 11 points. For Ontonagon, James Domitrovich led all scorers with 15 points.

Dollar Bay increased its defensive pressure and didn’t allow a made basket in the fourth quarter. Ontonagon was just 3 of 7 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and finished 6 of 12 from the stripe for the game.

“Our fourth quarter pressure is something I’ve been waiting to see,” Kentala said. “We amped it up. That’s the Dollar Bay I know.

“We’ll continue to get in the gym over the break and iron out some early-season woes. It’s nice to be 3-0, yet there’s so much more we will improve upon.”

Next, Dollar Bay (3-0) hosts Chassell on Jan. 2, while Ontonagon (0-3) heads to Calumet on Monday.

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Dollar Bay 11 6 10 18 — 45

Ontonagon 15 7 15 3 — 40

Dollar Bay — Thompson 3, Ashton Janke 5, Schmitz 13, Jaden Janke 11, Iacono 13. F: 17; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 15-21′ 3-point field goals: Thompson, Ashton Janke, Schmitz, Jaden Janke.

Ontonagon — Polakowski 3, Weisinger 5, Domitrovich 15, Buzzo 1, Howard 3, Balcomb 13. F: 17; Fouled out: Polakowski; Free throws: 6-12; 3-point field goals: Balcomb 3, Weisinger.

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LAKE LINDEN — Matt Ojala scored 25 points, while Eli McParlan added 17 and Travis Ojala chipped in with 14 as the Calumet Copper Kings topped the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes 81-49 in a nonconference game Thursday in Lake Linden.

LL-H took a 19-17 lead after the first quarter but scored just 30 points the rest of the way. Caleb Gregoire led the Lakes with 12 points.

Next, Calumet (1-2) hosts Ontonagon on Monday, while LL-H (2-2) heads to Republic-Michigamme on the same day.

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Calumet 17 24 20 20 — 81

LL-H 19 13 10 7 — 49

Calumet — Harmala 4, Matt Ojala 25, Travis Ojala 14, Antilla 4, McParlan 17, Hyrkas 9, Ekdahl 8. F: 14; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 15-22; 3-point field goals: Matt Ojala 2, Travis Ojala, Hyrkas.

LL-H — Crouch 10, Hainault 2, Caleb Gregoire 12, Cole Gregoire 10, Simpson 11, Wilson 4. F: 16; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 11-17; 3-point field goals: Caleb Gregoire, Cole Gregoire.