“All the girls have a license to shoot,” said coach Tim Routheaux. “If they don’t, they know that I will take them out of the game.”

That shooting prowess was on display Monday night as the Gladiators opened their game against the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts with seven three-pointers in a row to take a 21-13 lead and then rode that start to a 58-43 victory.

The Gladiators would go on to score 10 triples in the game. They were poured in by five different girls.

“We’ve really been focusing on our three-point game ever since Christmas,” added Routheaux. “That’s what’s been nice about this. It is not just one girl scoring them all, but rather it’s been a team effort.”

Ontonagon’s Lilly McIntyre fires off a pass during a game against Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Monday at the Dollar Bay Gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

The Blue Bolts (5-8) only lead in the game was in the opening minutes at 6-0. The Gladiators (9-4) tied it at six at the 4:45 mark and made it a 23-15 lead for themselves after one. They outscored the Blue Bolts 16-13 in the second and to lead 39-38 at half.

“Our defense sealed the deal in the third on this one,” said Routheaux. “We only gave them three points (in that period) thanks to some good rebounding, and that put some separation between us.”

It was a 49-31 Gladiator lead after three quarters.

On the other bench, Blue Bolts coach Steve Krahling admitted that the Gladiators had the hot hand.

“They were hard to stop,” he said. “However, I am pleased with the effort we gave. We are getting better every game, and we just have to keep working.”

For the Gladiators, MaKennah Uotila sunk 24 points. Emmy Bobula, Lilly McIntyre and Madalynn Pollard all had nine points.

For the Blue Bolts, Ashlea Datto had an impressive six three pointers in route to a scoring 24 points on the night. Teammate Evelyn Moilanen followed with 14.

Up next

The Blue Bolts travel to Bessemer to face the Speed Girls on Thursday.

Scoring

ONT 23 16 10 9 – 58

DBTC 15 13 3 12 – 43

ONT – E. Bobula 9, A. Bobula 1, McIntyre 9, Pollard 9, K. Uotila 6, M. Uotila 24.

DBTC – Datto 24, Moilanen 14, Swain 3, Maki 2.