GWINN — The Houghton Gremlins girls basketball team is still dealing with early-season growing pains as the Gremlins fell 55-45 to the Gwinn Modeltowners Monday in a nonconference game in Gwinn.

“We’ve got five kids on the floor and they’re on different pages in the book,” Houghton coach Julie Filpus said. “We basically have to get ourselves on the same page and commit to defense and rebounding. We haven’t done that yet.”

Gwinn outscored Houghton 24-17 in the second quarter for a 32-25 halftime lead. Houghton scored just 20 points in the second half.

For Houghton, Kara Pietila and Harlee Froberg each led the way with 10 points. The Gremlins (1-3) will have their first West-PAC matchup on Friday when they host the West Iron County Wykons.

“It’s nice to have three games in before conference starts,” Filpus said. “We’ve learned in our last two that there are things to be corrected.”

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Gwinn 8 24 14 9 — 55

Houghton 8 17 11 9 — 45

Gwinn — Karki 7, Johnson 18, Voskohl 2, Norman 4, Syrjala 3, Jacobson 7, Battle 23, Nelson 10. F: 19; Fouled out: Shiroda. Free throws: 10-11; 3-point field goals: Karki, Syrjala. 

Houghton — Pietila 10, Ryynangen 9, Klei. 4, Monette 11, Eddy 1, Froberg 10. F: 14. Fouled out: None. Free throws: 7-13; 3-point field goals: Ryynangen 2.