HANCOCK — The Hancock Bulldogs (1-1) went into halftime down by three in a close contest with Jeffers (1-1), but the Bulldogs were able to rally and pull away for a 43-34 victory, Friday in Hancock.

Taylor Sebbas combatted foul trouble to lead the Bulldogs with 16 points, and D’Andra Kero added seven. 

Jeffers kept Hancock on its toes by running a box-and-one on Kero in the first half, something coach Jack Johnson said his team wasn’t expecting. 

“That threw us for a loop and we struggled to shoot the ball,” he said. “The first half was just about staying in the game, but we came out aggressive in the third, and that made the difference.”

Hancock (1-1) outscored Jeffers (1-1) 14-8 in the third quarter, ignited by some quick steals on defense and two 3-pointers by Milly Brooks. 

“Ultimately it was pretty ugly both ways, not a stellar shooting night for either team,” Johnson said. “We came out with a lot of intensity, but we really struggled on the offensive end. I thought our defense was sound throughout the game in spurts, but we had some missed assignments at times, and fortunately for us, they didn’t capitalize. But overall I thought both teams played hard.”

Next up Hancock travels to Bessemer, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Jeffers stays at home to play Calumet on the same day.

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Jeffers 14 7 8 5 — 34

Hancock 9 10 14 10 — 43

Jeffers – Klemett 5, Stevens 3, Norstrom 8, Kinnunen 6, Penala 12. FTs: 4-12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: Klemett. 3-pointers: Stevens, Nordstrom, Kinnunen.

Hancock – A. Brooks 3, M. Brooks 6, Sebbas 16, Pertile 4, Berg 5, Kero 7, Heinonen 2. FTs: 8-13. Fouls: 12.  Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: A. Brooks 1, M. Brooks 2, Sebbas 1, Kero 1. 

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ONTONAGON — Ontonagon withstood Watersmeet’s comeback attempt to win its season opener 46-39 Friday night in Copper Mountain Conference girls basketball.

The Gladiators took a 20-7 first- quarter lead and were still up by double digits going into the fourth quarter, 42-26. Watersmeet outscored Ontonagon 13-4 in the fourth to make it more interesting, but the Gladiators held on.

“Whatever we were doing in the first half we didn’t continue in the second half,” Ontonagon coach Dick Franti said. “It was a good opening win. Certainly plenty of things we need to clean up and get better at.”

Holly Wardynski scored 14 points to lead Ontonagon, but she exited the game early in the third quarter with an ankle sprain.

“We kind of struggled, we had enough to get through,” Franti said. “It was like pulling teeth for a while. The last four minutes, we had to pull it out and take care of the ball.”

Bethany Baldwin led Watersmeet with 27 points; she was 11 of 13 at the line.

“Bethany was her usual self,” Franti said. “She took it to the hole hard and we played too much arm defense instead of foot defense.”

Ontonagon (1-0, 1-0) hosts Wakefield-Marenisco Tuesday. Watersmeet (0-2, 0-2) goes to Lake Linden-Hubbell Tuesday.

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Watersmeet 7 13 6 13 — 39

Ontonagon 20 14 8 4 — 46

Watersmeet – Na-Shaniyah Thomas 1, Rebecca Caron 5, Bethany Baldwin 27, Annabellle Besonen 4, Hailey Pallin 2. FTs: 15-18. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Caron. 3-pointers: None.

Ontonagon – Kinsey Weisinger 7, Ella Menigoz 4, Teddy Menigoz 5, Jenny Labyak 4, Katelynn Laingren 2

Izabelle Lutz 2, Fahren Klopack 6, Holly Wardynski 14, Mackenzie Fredrikson 2. FTs: 7-13. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Frederickson. 3-pointers: T. Menigoz 1, Wardynski 2.

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CHASSELL — Chassell (1-1) defeated visiting Republic-Michigamme 64-8 on Friday. The Panthers rushed out to a quick 22-2 start in the first quarter and cruised to a win from there. 

Milly Allen led the way for Chassell with 21 points, including the team’s only two 3-pointers and Sydney Danison chipped in with 11 points. 

Defensively Chassell was too much for Republic-Michigamme and held the Hawks to just three field goals. 

Next up, Chassell will take on Ewen-Trout Creek Tuesday at home. 

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Republic-Michigamme 2 0 4 2 — 8

Chassell 22 12 16 14 — 64

RM – Radcliffe 4, Raisaned 1, Ball 2, DuMoulin 1. FTs: 2-3. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: Ball. 3-pointers: None.

Chassell – Pietila 8, Hokenson 2, Allen 21, Danison 11, Rauttola 2, Hietala 6, Hunta 6, Markham 2, Goddard 4, Olson 2. FTs: 4-6. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Allen 2.