PAINESDALE — Opponents of the Jeffers High boys basketball team this season can expect one thing for sure: Pressure.

The high-flying Jets displayed that Monday night in a CCC Copper Mountain game against the Chassell Panthers.

“You know they (Jets) are going to force the issue both ways,” CHS coach Raphael Soumis said after his team’s 72-57 loss. “Unfortunately we didn’t always handle it tonight.”

And while the 9-4 Panthers fell, they showed enough to let foes they’ll be a force to contend with in the upcoming district tournament.

Jeffers coach John Schutz said the Panthers will cause trouble in the postseason.

“Karl Rautiola is a heckuva of a player,” the JHS skipper said. “He showed it again tonight. And they have players who can hurt you if you pay too much attention to him.”

The Jets, who are now 14-1 this winter, showed they have ample weapons as well.

Freshman guard Levi Frahm led the way with 23 points, converting five three-point plays. Senior center Christian Hocking was good for 19 points and a game high 13 rebounds.

Junior forward John Schutz was his usual steady self with 15 points, four steals and five assists. Kyle Mattila netted eight points.

The Panthers managed a 17-16 first quarter lead behind seven points by Rautiola, who is averaging just over 29 points a game.

But the Green and White gained control in the second frame with a 21-13 margin in the quarter for a 37-30 lead at the break. Hocking put in nine markers in the period.

Jeffers took control of the contest in the third quarter, mounting a 57-39 command.

Frahm scored 16 of his total in the second half,

“He (Frahm) has done a nice job of controlling things since he came up,” coach Schutz said.

The Panthers were paced by Rautiola’s 22 points and 12 boards. Dean Pietila added 17 more, while Daba Holmes had 11 points and 8 rebounds.

“(Holmes) is going to help us once he gets his legs under him,” Soumis said of the sophomore forward who has played in just four games because of COVID concerns.

Jeffers will host Republic-Michigamme on Thursday. Chassell will play Hancock tonight at home.

CHS 17 13 9 18 — 57

JHS 16 21 20 15 — 72

CHASSELL (57): Pietila 17, K. Rautiola 22, Holmes 11, Loukus 2, Kytta 3, Danison 3. FT: 3-6. Rebounds: 25 (Rautiola 12). Fouls: 11. Houled out: None. 3-point FG: Pietila 3, Rautiola 2, Danison 1.

JEFFERS (72): Heinonen 2, Schutz 15, Hocking 19, L. Frahm 23, Kunishge 5, Mattila 8. FT: 11-14. Rebounds: 34 (Hocking 13). Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: L. Frahm 5, Schutz 3, Hocking 2, Kunishge 1.