Houghton’s Ellie Hainault (43) and Calumet’s Bailey Strom (32)  battle for a rebound during a game Monday at the Houghton Gym. In on the play as well is Houghton’s Jayce Sleeman (far left). (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Houghton Gremlins girls basketball team evened the score with local rivals, the Calumet Copper Kings, with a 49-41 win on Monday at home. A month ago, the Copper Kings downed the Gremlins with a similar score of 44-41 in a game played in Calumet.

For Houghton coach Julie Filpus, the key to victory was a patient offense.

“It was a complete-game win, but I really liked our patience on offense,” she said. “We worked the ball around, and got a good shot, and got the ball inside.”

The Gremlins (13-5) won the jump ball and pushed out to an 8-6 lead early in the first. A Clea Ollanketo 3-pointer made it an 11-6 lead, and the Houghton five were up by seven at 13-6 after the first.

The Copper Kings played stronger in the second and lessened their deficit to just four points at haft with a 21-17 score.

“I told the girls to keep doing what they were doing at half,” said Copper Kings coach Charlie Kemppaninen.

The girls heeded his call and tied the game at 21 with four quick, unanswered points within the first 90 seconds of the third. However, that was as good as it got. Back-to-back threes by Houghton teammates Roman Trevino Peterlin and Ellie Hainult pushed the Gremlins to a 32-21 lead.

“Those threes hurt us as it put us in a deep hole and added fuel to their momentum,” added Kemppaninen.

As the third turned into the fourth, the Copper Kings (9-9) again opened up the quarter with four quick points and got within three of the Gremlins at 39-36 with 3:03 to go in the game. However, they couldn’t put a stop on the Gremlins’ offensive moves.

Eva Gerard led the scoring for the Gremlins with 13 points, and she added 11 rebounds. Hainault followed with 11 points. This inclued three of her team’s six 3-pointers. Clea Ollenketo rounded out the top scoring with 10 points.

“Ellie (Hainault) had an excellent game,” Filpus said. “She made her shots and had some key assists.”

For the Copper Kings, Maija Keranen topped the scoring with 20 points.

“They hit their shots and we didn’t,” said Kemppainen. “However I am proud of the girls; they worked hard.”

UP NEXT

The Gremlins look to avenge another earlier loss this season on Thursday as they welcome Marquette to the Houghton Gym. Tip off set for 7:15 p.m.

On the same night, the Copper Kings will welcome the Wykons of West Iron County with a 7:15 p.m. start.