Baraga’s Rylie Koskinen puts up a shot against Hancock on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Hancock, Mich. (Paul Peterson/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — Two evenly balanced girls basketball teams got together Thursday night in Hancock when the Bulldogs met the Baraga Vikings.

The result was a 48-43 win for the Bulldogs — a game that HCHS coach Ward Helakoski felt could have gone either way.

“When you get two good teams together, anything can happen,” Helakoski said. “I’m just happy to come out with a win, because Baraga is a good team.”

Hancock was clinging to a 44-43 lead with under 30 seconds left to play. After missing a couple of golden opportunities, the Vikings were forced to foul Kaisa Salani.

Salani sank a pair of charity tosses and the Bulldogs had the breathing room they needed to win for the fifth time in seven tries this season.

Baraga coach Tom Goodreau said his team fell behind early in the second quarter.

“We got to within one point late in the game,” Goodreau said. “We had our chances, but we were careless with the basketball. It cost us.”

After a tight opening quarter, the Bulldogs grabbed a 13-10 lead at quarter’s end. They managed a 27-16 halftime lead behind the play of sophomore Bella Hebert, who tallied nine points in the opening half.

“Bella (Hebert) played really well tonight, she brought the ball up the floor and rebounded,” Helakoski said. “We’re in the middle of a really tough stretch of games and the girls are a little bit tired.”

Senior Rylie Koskinen sparked a third quarter rally by BHS with her floor play.

But Hancock managed a 36-27 margin by the end of the period, although Baraga edged to within five points at one time.

The Vikings made their move in the final quarter, but could never regain the upper hand.

Hebert had a nice game for the Bulldogs with a game-high 19 points. She also took down 14 rebounds.

Cassie Pietila added eight more points. Kassi Chynoweth and Salani split 14 more points.

Baraga was paced by Koskinen with 16 points. She also notched five steals and six assists.

Jaylyne Lindemann notched nine points and nine rebounds, while Allison Durant put in eight more points and had eight boards.

The Bulldogs will host Ishpeming Saturday before meeting tough Ewen-TC and Houghton after that.

“It’s a tough stretch, no doubt about that,” Helakoski said. “We’ll need to get some rest.”

BHS 10 6 11 16 — 43

HCHS 13 14 9 12 — 48

BARAGA (43): Durant 8, Lindemann 9, Koskinen 16, Kakhonen 2, Osterman 8, Jahfetson 2, Hendrickson 2. FT: 12-20. Rebounds: 29 (Lindemann 9). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG: Koskinen 1.

HANCOCK (48): Chynoweth 7, Pietila 8, Hebert 19. Brey 3, Salani 7, Driscoll 4. FT: 16-24. Rebounds: 31 (Hebert 14). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None. 3-point FG. Chynoweth 2, Brey 1, Salani 1.

Boys: Chassell, 79, Ontonagon 51

Karl Rautiola scored 32 points to lead the Panthers over the Gladiators on Thursday night. Rautiola scored 23 points in the first half, including 12 in the second quarter. Devin Kilpela added 12 points for Chassell.

Thomas Immonen led Ontonagon with 18 points.

Chassell led 48-21 at halftime.

Girls: Ontonagon 62, L’Anse 25

Ella Menigoz led the Gladiators with 18 points against the Purple Hornets on Thursday. Lilly McIntyre and MaKennah Uotila each scored 10 points. Teddy Menigoz scored eight points.

Taylor Sanregret led L’Anse with eight points. Maija Rice added six points and Alayna Waara scored five.

Ontonagon led 28-7 at halftime.

Girls: LL-H 58, Watersmeet 41

Kaci Destrampe scored 20 points to lead the Lakes past the Nimrods on Thursday. Taylor Clements scored 18 points. Olivia Shank added seven points. Camaryn Crouch and Melissa Wagner scored six points each.

Ontionna Brunt led Watersmeet with 14 points.

LL-H led 40-26 at halftime.

Boys: LL-H 63, Watersmeet 54

Travis Ongie and William Lyons combined for 45 points against the Nimrods on Thursday. Ongie scored a game-high 24 points and Lyons added 21.

Watersmeet led 26-19 at halftime. The Lakes scored 22 points in the third to take a 41-35 lead going into the fourth quarter. Lyons scored 12 of his points in the third. Ongie scored 10 points in the fourth.

Mitchell McGeshick led Watersmeet with 15 points.

— Sports editor Adam Niemi contributed to this report.