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Bulldogs take big bite out of Gremlins Monday, 46-29

Paul Peterson/For the Gazette Hancock's Kirsten Dennis prepares to pass to a teammate in Monday's game versus Houghton. The Bulldogs won the battle of arch-rivals, 46-29.

HANCOCK — Poise and polish can often decide the outcome of a basketball game.

On Monday night at the Hancock Gym, the hometown Bulldogs had a little more of each in recording a 46-29 girls basketball WestPAC decision over the Houghton Gremlins.

“I thought we played a pretty decent game tonight,” Hancock skipper Dan Pertile said. “We were able to keep good defensive pressure on them (Gremlins) the whole game.”

Houghton veteran coach Julie Filpus said Hancock — while younger in age — had the edge in playing experience.

“They’ve got girls who have played a lot and have more experience than we do,” Filpus said. “They shot at a better level than we did.”

Two juniors, Taylor Sebbas and D’Andra Kero, were prime examples of that savvy Monday.

Sebbas netted a game-high 16 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots. Kero, just returning to health after earlier injury woes, added 11 points, three steals and four assists.

Pertile said a move to have Sebbas handling the ball more on the outside has paid off.

“Taylor (Sebbas) is our best inside player but she can handle the ball pretty well,” he said. “It has worked out.”

The two old rivals played an even first quarter with the “Dawgs” grabbing a 9-8 lead by quarter’s end.

But the Crimson and Gold opened up a safe margin in the second as Sebbas canned eight points and Kero had seven more in 21-5 scoring edge.

That made it 30-13 at the half and the Gremlins had to scramble the rest of the way.

Kero popped in a triple to end the third frame and that made for a 40-21 lead.

The Bulldogs moved to 6-5 with the win and that came on the heels of a big victory over Iron Mountain last week.

“We’re playing good basketball,” Pertile said. “But we’re still looking to see how good we can be.”

The Gremlins in a rare rebuilding season, dropped to 1-8 with the setback.

Filpus likes some of the things her club is doing.

“The record doesn’t show it …. but we’re improving,” she said. “The rebuilding phase goes on.”

In addition to the efforts of Sebbas and D’Andra Kero, Hancock received seven points from Marina Kero. Freshman Kirsten Dennis played a fine floor game while handling the point.

The Gremlins were paced by senior Cassie Ryynanen with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Hancock goes to Lake Linden-Hubbell on Thursday. Houghton will host L’Anse next Monday.

Houghton    8    5    8   8 – 29

Hancock      9    21 10  6 – 46

HOUGHTON — Bugni 6, Markham 6, Ryynanen 12, Connors 4. FT:  6-8; Rebounds: 22 (Ryynanen 8); Fouls: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: None.

HANCOCK — Sebbas 16, Dennis 4, M. Kero 7, Sturos 4, D Kero 11, Heinonen 2, Dube 2. FT: 6-10 Rebounds: 29 (Sebbas 10); Fouls: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point FG: D. Kero 3, Sebbas 2.

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