Sebbas hit a deep 3-pointer as time expired in the first half to give the Hancock Bulldogs their first lead of the game.

Hancock (8-6) expanded on that lead throughout the second half in a 46-31 win over rival Houghton (4-10) on Monday.

Sebbas was fouled less than 30 seconds before the triple and hit one of two free throws to tie the game. Houghton led by led by as much as six early in the second quarter. Sebbas finished with seven points.

Until Hancock took the lead, both teams played stingy defense and neither offense settled into a rhythm as defenses tipped passes out of bounds or into battles for loose balls. But Houghton had cobbled together the early lead by coming out with more intensity and overcoming Hancock’s fullcourt press.

Hancock's Kalli Chynoweth (11) battles Houghton's Annika Peterson (11) for a rebound on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

“Certainly once we settled in, made some shots and got ourselves into a rhythm,” Hancock head coach Dan Pertile said. “I think a big switch was the 3-pointer at the half by (Taylor) Sebbas. That kind of turned the momentum a little bit and we kept it going right away in the third quarter.”

Hancock outscored Houghton 15-4 in the third quarter as the Bulldogs forced the Gremlins into turning the ball over. The Bulldogs led 37-23 going into the fourth.

Jordan Pertile led the Bulldogs with a game-high 12 points.

Houghton head coach Julie Filpus said Sebbas’ 3-pointer at the end of the first half was a bit of a dagger in a Gremlins season where they’ve struggled to maintain consistency.

“For our kids in terms of where we’re at as a team and our record, I think that was pretty significant,” Filpus said of the 3-pointer. “I think in the second half, Hancock came out and they were the aggressors and we ended up on our heels too often.”

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) battles Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) for a rebound on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Stella Wickstrom led Houghton with eight points.

When the Gremlins were playing well, Filpus said, they were able to overcome Hancock’s defensive pressure. That wore down as the game progressed.

“I think their pressure definitely was more of a factor in the second half than the first half,” Filpus said. “In a game where there really wasn’t a lot of scoring, that five- to seven-point separation was pretty significant.”

Hancock hosts Lake Linden-Hubbell on Thursday. Houghton hosts Chassell on Friday.

Hancock 5 17 15 9 — 46

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) puts up a shot as Hancock's Marina Kero (10) defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton 11 8 4 8 — 31

HANCOCK (46): Pertile 12, D. Kero 8, Sebbas 7, Salani 5, Hebert 5, Dube 4, Driscoll 3, Brey 2. FT: 12-18. F: 18. 3-point FG: 2 (Sebbas 1, Salani 1).

HOUGHTON (31): Wickstrom 8, Peterson 7, Bugni 6, Trewhella 6, Connors 3, Markham 1. FT: 7-17. F: 16. 3-point FG: 2 (Peterson 1, Bugni 1).

Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) dribbles as Hancock's Maari Brey (21) defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) hits a 3-pointer to give her team the lead at the end of the first half against Houghton on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) celebrates with teammates Molly Bugni (21) and Gwen Markham (35) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's D'Andra Kero, left, drives to the basket as Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) shoots a free throw against Hancock on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) passes against Hancock on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) looks to pass against Hancock on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) puts up a shot in front of Hancock's D'Andra Kero (22) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) shoots in front of Hancock's Isabella Hebert (31) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Josie Connors (23) shoots against Hancock on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) battles Hancock's Marina Kero (10) for a rebound on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Molly Bugni (21) drives to the basket as Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) drives to the basket as Hancock's Marina Kero (10) defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Maryellen Trewhella (25) drives to the basket as Hancock's Marina Kero (10) defends on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) shoots in front of Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) and Maryellen Trewhella (25) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) and Maryellen Trewhella (25) battle Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Taylor Sebbas (12) shoots in front of Houghton's Stella Wickstrom (31) and Maryellen Trewhella (25) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)