CALUMET — Defense led the Calumet Copper Kings girls basketball team in their 67-35 victory over the Hancock Bulldogs.

Calumet held the Bulldogs to seven points in the first half, including a second-quarter shutout.

“Defensively, they picked it up, especially I think in the second quarter,” Calumet head coach Matt Laho said. “Communication, jumping the ball, taking away the dribble attack to the rim, and then being able to jump passes.”

The Kings (12-1) entered the game just three days after they suffered their first loss of the season, and they were able to rebound with an impressive performance.

“These girls are resilient,” said Laho. “They knew that Friday’s game was more of an anomaly.”

The Bulldogs still have an impressive 10-3 record after the loss. The good Hancock squad was unable to keep the game close.

“They just pressured us to the point where we couldn’t think or function,” said Hancock head coach Ward Helakoski. “We’re capable of doing better; we had kind of a lull in the week.”

Calumet took a 5-0 lead two minutes into the game. The Bulldogs answered with four points in the next minute to make it 5-4. The Kings went on a 10-3 run to close out the first, and the Copper Kings led 15-7 entering the second quarter.

The Kings did not give up a point in the second quarter. Calumet scored five points halfway through the frame. The Kings had a 20-7 advantage with four minutes left in the quarter. Calumet only managed one more basket before half-time but took a 15-point lead into the break, 22-7.

Hancock (10-3) came out of half-time on fire. The Bulldogs outscored the Kings 7-3 in the opening two minutes and made it a 25-14 game. Calumet followed it up with a 6-2 run and extended the lead back to 15. For the last half of the third quarter, the Kings scored 11, and Hancock scored five. Calumet held a commanding 42-21 lead heading into the fourth.

The Kings did not take their foot off the gas in the fourth.

Two minutes in, Calumet extended their lead to 51-24. The Kings did not allow a comeback attempt in the remaining minutes, and Calumet took home the win.

Senior Marybeth Halonen led the Kings with 21 points, senior Alexis Strom scored 10 points with eight rebounds, and senior Jana Loukus and junior Helen Beiring scored seven.

Hancock senior Kalli Chynoweth made four three-pointers for 12 points, and junior Isabella Herbert scored six.

Calumet hosts Chassell at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. Hancock visits Gwinn at 7:15 p.m. Friday.