Paige Berglund of Ewen-Trout Creek works against Maggie Norland of Dollar Bay Thursday night in Copper Mountain Conference action. (Paul Peterson photo)

DOLLAR BAY — With a 15-4 record and a No. 5 ranking in the UPPSA polls, the Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers are seen as a legitimate contender in the upcoming Class D girls basketball districts.

Dollar Bay coach Steve Krahling has no trouble seeing the Panthers as a threat.

“They’ve got talent, size, and good shooters,” the Blue Bolts coach said after his team dropped a 72-36 decision to E-TC Thursday night. “I think they’re good enough to give any team up here a battle.” 

E-TC coach Jacky Besonen was pleased with the way her team approached the Copper Mountain Conference game.

“You can’t take any team lightly,” Besonen said. “And our girls did a good job tonight of sharing the basketball and playing good defense.”

Any doubts about the outcome were decided in the opening minutes when the taller Panthers opened up a 10-3 lead on their way to a 19-7 first-quarter advantage.

The Blue Bolts tried to counter behind the 3-point shooting of Bailey Poyhonen and Paige Isaacson, who each nailed three 3s in the game.

But E-TC kept working the ball inside to 6-foot center Madelyn Cronkright and 5-10 Paige Berglund. And when that strategy didn’t work, the Ontonagon County team had freshman guard Elise Besonen to look to.

Besonen sniped in three 3-pointers to keep Dollar Bay aware.

“There isn’t much you can do,” Krahling said. “They can dump the ball inside or get a good shot from outside. It’s tough to defend.”

Holding a 40-18 margin at halftime, the Panthers erased any doubt with a 24-5 run in the third quarter.

Reserves played out the final period.

Five players reached double figures for the victors. Cronkright led with 17 points, Besonen added 15, Berglund put in 12, while Abby LeGault had 11 and Ava Moilanen contributed 10 points and a game-leading 10 rebounds.

“That’s the kind of balance you like to see,” Besonen said. “If you can do that consistently, you’ve got a shot in any game.”

The 3-17 Bolts received 13 points from Poyhonen. Emma Stout and Isaacson split 18 more markers.

E-TC will end the season with a game at Watersmeet tonight.

Dollar Bay awaits district play in Painesdale on Wednesday.

– – –

E-TC 19 21 24 8 — 72

Dollar Bay 7 11 5 13 — 36

EWEN-TC — Cronkright 17, Berglund 12, Witt 4, Besonen 15, LeGault 11, Moilanen 10, Schutz 2, Andrus 1. FT: 8-12; Rebounds: 35 (Moilanen 10); Fouls: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Besonen 3, Cronkright 2, Berglund 1.

DOLLAR BAY — Isaacson 9, Caskey 1, Poyhonen 13, Stout 9, Gilles 2, Norland 2. FT: 8-11; Rebounds: 22 (Caskey 6); Fouls: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Poyhonen 3, Isaacson 3.