PAINESDALE — Ontonagon continued its steady play of late and advanced to the Class D district finals with an easy 60-28 win over Dollar Bay Wednesday.

Ontonagon coach Dick Franti was more than happy to be playing for a title Friday night against Chassell.

“You can’t win if you’re not there,” Franti said. “We’re there and that’s all I care about.”

The Gladiators polished off the Blue Bolts with a rock-solid second quarter in which they shut out Dollar Bay.

“We played really good defense in that quarter,” Franti said. “Any time you can put up a goose egg on the other team, you’re doing well.”

With a 19-12 lead after a well-played first quarter, Ontonagon scored 11 points in the second period while the Blue Bolts had zero.

Dollar Bay coach Steve Krahling said his team was intimidated by the constant pressure of the Gladiators.

“We got rattled and started turning it over,” Krahling said. “It’s something we’ve done all season.”

The Gladiators, 12-10 on the season, were quick to jump on their opponent’s mistakes. 

They surged to a 30-12 cushion by the halftime break behind the play of Jenny Labyak and Fahren Kolpack.

Labyak led the winners with 13 points, while Kolpack chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.

Ontonagon built a 41-19 lead after three frames, allowing Franti to clear his bench.

Holly Wardynski collected nine points and four assists for the winners.

Bobbi Jo Caskey turned in a solid game for the 3-18 Bolts with 12 points and seven boards. Bailey Poyhonen tossed in eight more points.

“Bobbi Jo played a fine game,” Krahling said. “We just didn’t have much help for her.”

Franti said Chassell presents some obvious problems for his relatively short squad.

“Chassell is a well-coached team with size and talent,” he said. “We’ll need to play a very good game to beat them.”

– – –

Ontonagon 19 11 11 19 — 60

Dollar Bay 12 0 7 9 — 28

ONTONAGON — Labyak 13, Weisinger 7, E. Menigoz 5; Kolpack 10, T.Menigoz 2, Lutz 5, Wardynski 9, Laingren 4, Haapala 4, Lukkari 2. FT: 6-11; Rebounds: 33 (Kolpack 9); Fouls: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Wardnyski 1, Haapala 1, Labyak 1, Lutz 1.

DOLLAR BAY — Caskey 12, Poyhonen 8, Isaacson 5, Stout 3. FT: 3-5; Rebounds: 17 (Caskey 7); Fouls: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: Poyhonen 2, Stout 1.