PAINESDALE — What a difference a month makes.

In mid-December, the Jeffers Jets girls basketball team was raw. They were all over the place rushing into shots. That style of play has drastically changed.

On Tuesday night, it was a very different Jeffers Jet girls squad. It was a team that was in control of its offense. It was a team with a plan and a victory as they defeated the Wakefield-Marenisco Cardinals 50-26.

“Controlling the ball is something that we have been working on,” Jets head coach Addie Saltarelli said. We’ve become much better at reading the defense and moving the ball in if we need to or pushing the ball out to shoot.”

The Jets (4-2) shot of chose on the night was the layup. In fact, they started the game with two to pull out to a 4-0 lead. A couple of fast breaks later and the Jets had an 11- 4 lead.

The Cardinals (2-5) struggled to make baskets. The girls had the shots but the ball would not find the net much to the frustration of Wakefield-Marenisco’s head coach Chris Tweiten.

“Our shots just would not fall,” he said. “We hung with them and I thought we still had a chance to make something of this game at the half.”

The Jets led 26-16 at the midway point.

However things did not improve for the Cardinals in the third and fourth quarters.

“They (Jeffers) were a step quicker to the ball throughout the game,” Tweiten said.

Rebounding also helped the Jets. Jeffers crashed the boards both on offense and defense. On offense it afforded them second and third chances to score, which they did.

On defense, it allowed them quick transitions and to run a somewhat successful fast break.

“I was pleased with our transitions,” Saltarelli said. “We were able to push the ball up the court.”

Miranda Heinonen led the Jets with 15 points. Brenna Hill and Dayna Johnson both followed with 10. Carlee Yon led Wakefield-Marenisco with 10 points.

“I feel that we are getting better,” Tweiten said. “Every game is a step forward for us. They are learning the offense and getting the shots. They just aren’t dropping. Shooting is what we will be working on tomorrow at practice.”

The Jets host Ontonagon on Friday, while the Cardinals visit Dollar Bay.

Wakefield 6 10 6 4 — 26

Jeffers 14 12 18 8 — 52

WAKEFIELD-MARENISCO (26): Tarro 2, Ahonen 7, Yon 10, Hewitt 6, LaMaide 1. 3-point FG: 3 (Ahonen 1, Yon 2). F: 10. FT: 5-8.

JEFFERS (52): B. Heinonen 4, Larson 2, Hill 10, L. Heinonen 4, Johnson 10, M. Heinonen 15, Pennala 7. 3-point FG: 4 (Johnson 1, M Heinonen 3). F: 11. FT: 4-6.

Baraga bounces back to beat Hancock 35-29

BARAGA – For three quarters the Baraga Vikings girls basketball team had trailed the Hancock Bulldogs. At halftime they were down by two with a score 16-14. Eight minutes later after the third quarter they were down by 25-21. However, that all changed in the fourth quarter as the Vikings outscored the Bulldogs 14-4 and pulled off an 35-29 victory.

Key to the win was the fourth quarter play of Rylie Koskinen who poured in 11 of the teams fina 14 points. She led the team with 18 points on the night.

Hancock 7 9 9 4 — 29

Baraga 6 8 7 14 — 35

HANCOCK (29): Chynoweth 2, Sebbas 13, Brey 2, Kero 8, Salani 4. 3-point FG: Kero 1. F: 16. FT 4-7.

BARAGA (35): Koskinen 18, Osterman 1, Jahfetson 7, Lindenmann 5, Tembruell 2, Durant 2. 3-point FG: 3 (P Jahfetson 2, Kosinen 1). F: 11. FT: 10-16.

Gladiators slip past Panthers 43-36

CHASSELL — Despite outscoring the Ontonagon Gladiators 12-11 in the third quarter in Tuesday night’s girls basketball game, it was enough for the Chassell Panthers as they went down to defeat 43-36. In short, the Panthers just could not keep pace with the Gladiators.

The Menigoz sisters led the charge for the Gladiators as they scored more than half the team’s points. Teddy had 14 points and Ella poured in 10. It proved to be too much for Panthers.

“We definitely played with holiday rust but it was good to get back to games,” stated Chassell coach Bill Sleeman. “They shot very well and we were too sluggish to over come it.”

Paige Sleeman led the scoring for the Panthers with 17 points.

Ontonagon 13 12 11 7 — 43

Chassell 11 7 12 16 — 36

ONTONAGON (43): T. Menigoz 14, E. Menigoz 10, Kolpack 4, Uotila 9 Lukkari 4, McIntyre 2. 3-point FG: 2 (T. Menigoz 1, E. Menigoz 1). F: 11. Fts: 13-22.

CHASSELL (36): Holombo 4, Sleeman 17, K. Huhta 5, Palosaari 5, Ratamaki 3, L. Huhta 2. 3 point FG: 2 (Palosaari 1, Sleeman 1). F:17 Fts: 8-12.