ONTONAGON — Ontonagon held off a fourth-quarter charge by Republic-Michigamme in a 46-42 win on Thursday.

The Gladiators (1-0) led by 10 going into the fourth, but missed seven free throws down the stretch to keep Republic hanging around. In the end, they held on for the four-point win, the first for new head coach Brittany Turin-Jilbert.

Ontonagon built a 30-24 halftime lead by outscoring Republic 20-7 in the second quarter. Defense keyed the Gladiators all night in the win.

“The press worked really well for us to frustrate the other team and push the ball which worked for us,” Turin-Jilbert said. “We got in a bit of a shooting lull in the third quarter but we were able to pull it out in the end.”

Republic never took the lead, but the Gladiators’ defense forced a couple crucial late turnovers to hang on for the win.

“Defense just really came up big a couple times. We forced a travel one time with our press and we forced them to throw it out of bounds,” Turin-Jilbert said. “Defensive pressure saved us in the end, because offense sure did not. We did everything right. We worked defensively well, controlled the ball and got them to foul. We just didn’t complete the last step.”

The Gladiators were led by Logan Latvis’ 21 points.

Eli Luokkala led Republic-Michigamme with 25 points.

Ontonagon visits Chassell on Monday.

Republic 17 7 3 15 — 42

Ontonagon 10 20 7 9 — 46

REPUBLIC-MICHIGAMME (42): Eli Luokkala 25, Dupont 4, Kolin Conklin 8, Hanninen 2, Kaleb Conklin 3. FT: 2-4. 3-point FG: 4 (Loukkala 3, Kaleb Conklin 1). F: 17 (Kaleb Conklin fouled out). Rebounds: 25.

ONTONAGON (46): Latvis 21, Suomis 9, Strasser 6, Waters 1, Laingren 6, Immonen 3. FT: 6-16. 3-point FG: 6 (Latvis 4, Suomis 1, Laingren 1). F: 11. Rebounds: 17 (Strasser 7).

Ontonagon girls beat Dollar Bay, 55-15

DOLLAR BAY — Ontonagon held Dollar Bay-Tamarack City scoreless through the first quarter in a 55-15 girls basketball win Thursday.

The Gladiators (3-0) were led by Teddy Menigoz’s 12 points. Ontonagon led 34-4 at halftime.

“Kind of a weird game without JV. We got there late but the girls came off the bus and I was surprised — they shot the ball the best they have all year,” Ontonagon head coach Tim Rotheaux said. “We shot the ball real well. Everybody got to play a lot. Glad to start out 3-0.”

Ontonagon 14 20 17 4 — 55

Dollar Bay 0 4 2 9 — 15

ONTONAGON (55): Hill 3, T. Menigoz 12, E. Menigoz 7, Fredrickson 9, Kolpack 4, Pollard 2, Uotila 8, Lukkari 11. FT: 3-7. 3-point FG: Hill 1, T. Menigoz 2, Fredrickson 3, Lukkari 2. F: 12.

DOLLAR BAY (15): Datto 7, Davis 2, Turner 4, Gaunt 2. FT: 1-2. 3-point FG: 0. F: 17.