Negaunee’s Alyysa Hill goes to the basket against Hancock on Friday in Hancock. (Paul Peterson/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — It’s becoming a recurring problem for the Hancock High girls basketball team this season.

The Bulldogs run into a tall post player from the opposing team and she helps turn the game around.

“We’re obviously hurt by that (size),” Bulldogs coach Dan Pertile said after a 54-36 loss to Negaunee Friday night. “But the other team ends up shooting well against us and it kind of of snowballs. It’s good execution on their part.”

Negaunee’s 6-foot-2 sophomore center Alyssa Hill was the difference, showing slick moves around the hoop in tallying 14 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

“Alyssa (Hill) had a nice game tonight,” NHS coach Mike O’Donnell said afterward. “We wanted to get the ball inside to her and when we did, it opened up the outside shot.”

After a tight opening half that ended with the Miners up by a 21-20 score, the outside shooting alluded to by O’Donnell showed up.

Lilly Nelson popped in three treys from the side and Larisa Anderson and Breanne Gioto added one apiece as NHS took a 35-27 lead after three quarters.

Nelson started the fourth period with another triple and also netted five free throws as the Marquette County team moved away.

D’Andra Kero and Taylor Sebbas kept the Bulldogs, 2-3 so far, in contention the opening half.

But the Bulldogs were cold from the field in the second half and were unable to mount a comeback.

“We’ve been in a lot of close games where we hustling and scrambling,” Pertile said. “But it’s been frustrating for the girls because we can’t get over the top.”

O’Donnell, whose team is 4-2, said some early injuries have slowed his team.

“We’ve already lost two players for the season and we’ve had to go to the JV team for help, but those kids have helped us,” he said.

Nelson led the winners with 17 markers, while Hill’s contribution was next. Breanne Giotto had nine points.

Kero hit nine points for the Bulldogs, while Sebbas had eight more and snagged seven rebounds.

Hancock ends this part of the season on Monday with a trip to Chassell.

Negaunee 10 11 14 19 — 54

Hancock 9 11 7 9 — 36

NEGAUNEE (54): Giotto 9, Nelson 17, Henderson 2, Norman 7, Hill 14, Andersen 3, Carlsen 3. FT: 13-21. Rebounds: 27 (Hill 13). Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Nelson 4, Giotto 2, Anderson 1.

HANCOCK (36): Sebbas 8, Sturos 2, Chynoweth 4, Dube 2, Pertile 4, D. Kero 9, Hebert 4, Brey 2, Salani 1. FT: 3-8. Rebounds: 22 (Sebbas 7). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Kero, Sebbas, Chynoweth 1.