Chassell's Blade Warren works his way around a Republic-Michigamme defender Monday night. The Panthers stayed unbeaten with a 58-41 victory. (Paul Peterson photo)

CHASSELL — Monday night’s Republic-Michigamme and Chassell boys basketball game turned on a dime in the second half.

Trailing by 12 points just two minutes into the third quarter, the Panthers ratcheted up their full-court pressure and turned the deficit into a 58-41 win at Helakoski Memorial Gym.

“We struggled to get going tonight,” Chassell coach Bill Sleeman said afterward. “But the kids got after it in the second half.”

Did they ever.

Down by a 33-21 margin early in the third frame, the Panthers outscored their foes by an astounding 37-8 margin the rest of the way.

R-M coach Mario Marana said the athleticism of the Panthers was the difference.

“They came out trapping and pressing,” Marana said. “We didn’t handle it the way we wanted to, and it cost us. They have some good athletes and it’s tough to go four quarters at that pace. We got tired in the fourth quarter.”

Sleeman said that while the unrelenting backcourt pressure put on by junior guard Abe Gockenbach highlighted the second half rally, his whole team played hard.

“We were able to chip away by playing tough defense,” he said. “Each time we got a basket, it seemed to boost the energy of all the guys. We didn’t have that at the start of the game.”

Sparked by the drives of Kasey Ball and some tough underneath work by River Shumate, the Hawks held leads of 13-8 and 26-21 after the opening two periods.

“We played pretty well in the first half,” Marana said. “But the game slipped away from us in the second half.”

Five points by Ball put the lead up to the aforementioned 12-point reading in the third quarter.

Baskets by Gockenbach and Blade Warren shot the Panthers into a 38-34 lead late in the quarter. They held a 40-34 edge at quarter’s end.

Grant Hokenson, who paced Chassell with 14 points and eight rebounds, teamed up with Aaron Barnes to help the Blue and Gold move away in the final quarter.

Gockenbach chipped in 12 points and eight steals in a solid performance. Barnes added 11 points with nine coming in the final quarter.

Elijah Soumis contributed nine points and eight rebounds, while Warren had eight points and seven steals.

“I thought everyone worked hard tonight,” Sleeman said. “When we play like that, we’re capable of doing some good things. I think we can develop into a good team.”

The Hawks, who beat Ontonagon last week, were paced by Ball’s 20 points. Dylan Hanninen grabbed 11 rebounds.

Now 3-0 overall and in the Copper Country conference, Chassell will travel to Jeffers on Thursday.

R-M takes on Mid-Peninsula in its next game.