Chassell's Milly Allen shoots a layup against Ontonagon Tuesday, in Chassell. Chassell won 52-36. (Bryce Derouin/Daily Mining Gazette)

CHASSELL — Every possible expectation was heaped onto the Chassell Panthers this preseason. Conference favorites, district title favorites and perhaps even a regional championship is a realistic possibility when you return every player from a 15-6 squad. 

And when Chassell defends like they did in a 52-36 nonconference win over the Ontonagon Gladiators Tuesday in Chassell, those type of predictions are warranted. 

The Panthers limited Ontonagon to just 31 percent shooting (13-42) and forced 24 turnovers as their full-court pressure never allowed the Gladiators to run their halfcourt sets the way coach Dick Franti would like.

“We’ve been working on our press and trying to perfect it, and it seemed like we finally played it the right way,” Chassell coach Brandi Hainault said. “We were in the right spots, so the ball was being passed to them, basically, and that’s what the press is designed for.”

In a span of fewer than 20 seconds midway through the second quarter, Chassell’s press fueled a 12-0 run.

Following a 3 from Ontonagon freshman Teddy Menigoz to cut Chassell’s lead to 22-16, Chassell junior Jenna Pietila answered with a 3 from the left wing. Then, Chassell senior Meg Hokenson stole the inbounds pass twice and scored two layups. Another errant Ontonagon inbounds pass led to a free throw for Chassell senior Milly Allen, and two more Chassell steals in 10 seconds led to two more layups for Hokenson and a 34-16 advantage.

Hokenson led the Panthers with 12 points. 

“We just didn’t handle the pressure very well,” Franti said. “They got our offense hurried to the point where we weren’t running much of anything besides helter-skelter. They disrupted us most of the night.”

Earlier, Ontonagon broke the press and it led to a 3 by senior Kinsey Weisinger as the first quarter ended to trim Chassell’s lead to 18-13. But from there, the Gladiators (4-1) scored just 10 points in the next two quarters and shot 4 of 16 while committing 19 of their 24 miscues. Even when Ontonagon was able to break the press, Chassell’s senior post tandem of Sophia Huhta and Sydney Danison were there to protect the rim. 

The Panthers finished with a 41-19 edge on the boards, and Danison had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

“Fahren (Kolpack) was really working hard against Danison, but anytime she got inside position, there wasn’t much she could do,” Franti said. “We don’t have much size, so it’s definitely a factor we have to deal with each night.”

This was a nonconference game since the two teams will play a conference contest on Feb. 19 in Ontonagon to close the regular season conference schedule. While meaningless in the standings, the dominant showing against a previously undefeated Ontonagon squad reinforced the idea of Chassell as a conference favorite. The Panthers have won four straight after a season-opening 62-58 loss to the L’Anse Purple Hornets.

“Every game, we have to prove we’re the better team on the floor,” Hainault said. “One game at a time. We’re just trying to get better each game and do what we can to win the next one. 

“They’re a great group of girls who work well together and work hard.”

Next, Chassell goes to Bessemer on Jan. 5. Ontonagon heads to Jeffers on the same day.

– – – 

Chassell 18 16 10 8 — 52

Ontonagon 13 8 2 13 — 36

Ontonagon — E. Menigoz 6, Labyak 12, Laingren 4, Lutz 2, Kolpack 2, Weisinger 3, T. Menigoz 6, Fredrikson 1. F: 12; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 7-12; 3-point field goals: T. Menigoz 2, Weisinger.

Chassell — Pietila 9, Hokenson 12, Allen 11, Danison 10, Markham 2, Rautiola 4, Goddard 2, Olson 2. F: 13; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 4-9; 3-point field goals: Pietila, Allen.