Calumet’s Caitlyn Strom lines up a free throw as Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Payton Goldsworthy (13) and Amy Mahrley (22) working to block out Bailey Strom (32) under the rim during a game Friday at the Lake Linden-Hubbell Gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — While the Calumet Copper Kings girls basketball team had a slight three-point lead at half, it wouldn’t be enough to carry them to a win against the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes on Friday. The Lakes out scored their opponent 34-23 in the final two quarters to earn a 58-50 victory.

Not only was the game won in the second half, but the Lakes’ Emily Jokela set a new record for girls scoring during the latter part of the game. With a 3-pointer early in the third, she hit point number 1,332, and became the school’s all-time leading scorer. She broke the record of 1,331 held by Angela Guisfredi set in 2005.

The junior point guard wound up with 30 points on the night and will most probably set the all-school scoring mark this week. That record is 1,349 held by Tyler Roose in 2015. Jokela is less than 10 points away already.

“Emily is everything to this program,” said coach Jack Kumpala. “She works hard and is our field general – running the offense. Our players are better because she is on the floor. She is not selfish, and all the girls respect her.”

If the second half belonged to the Lakes, the first was dominated by the Copper Kings.

“We shot well, and the girls played as a unit,” said Calumet coach Charlie Kemppainen.

His squad led 13-9 after one, and 27-24 at half. The driving force behind the Copper Kings opening push was Caitlyn Strom. Twelve of her 13 points came in the first half.

“I told the girls we needed to stop her in the second half, and for the most part we did,” said Kumpala.

That, combined with a stronger, tighter defense on Lake Linden’s part, put the Lakes up by one at 39-38 after three. Poorer play by the Copper Kings certainly contributed to the situation.

“We seemed to have a breakdown in the third, and turned the ball over,” said Kemppainen, “and they (Lakes) capitalized on that. That is what good teams do.”

The Lakes kept that momentum rolling into the fourth, and finished the game with an eight-point edge at the buzzer.

Cleo Milkey followed Jokela in the scoring with 23. She was 9-12 from the free throw line.

For the Copper Kings, Kiirsi Johnson led the scoring with 17 points. Lily Keranen had 10.

UP NEXT

Both teams will close out their seasons on Tuesday.

The Lakes will welcome the L’Anse Purple Hornets to Lake Linden with a 7:15 p.m. tip off. The Copper Kings will travel to Iron Mountain.