Dollar Bay-Tamarack City's Liam Tourtillott dribbles in on Jeffers Brexton Kinnunen during a game Friday at the Jeffers High School gym in Painesdale. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

PAINESDALE — One could not have asked for a better homecoming game at the Jeffers High School gym Friday. The Jeffers Jets boys basketball team welcomed the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts to their festive gym. The game saw a couple of lead changes and even more ties. In the end, the Blue Bolts proved to be the better team with a one-point victory, 51-50.

“The key to victory was composure down the stretch,” said Blue Bolts coach Jesse Kentala. “The guys are veterans and handled themselves well. We were gritty and worked hard.”

Interestingly, the Jets won three of the four quarters (second, third and fourth) of play. However a 17-11 Blue Bolts lead after one proved to be the difference maker.

While the Blue Bolts led by as much as eight in the second, 27-19, the Jets were able to get that down to three at 28-25 at half.

In the third, the Jets knotted their opponent at 32 and 37, but could never take the lead.

In the final eight minutes, it was tied at 42, 44, and 46 before the Jets finally took a lead at 48-46. That two -point advantage lasted about 13 seconds.

A 3-pointer by Liam Tourtillott pushed the Bolts back on top at 49-48, and they held on to win from there.

The Blue Bolts had four players in double digits, and those four players were responsible for all the scoring. They were led by Baron Colbert with 14 points. Liam Tourtillott had 13; as did Noah Tourtillott. Caleb Kentala poured in 11.

“This was a team effort,” said Coach Kentala. “It was really won in the first and fourth quarters. Hats off to Jeffers. They are a good team who works hard.”

Landon Larson led the scoring for the Jets at 21. Levi Kinnunen followed with 15.

Up next

Jeffers will travel to Lake Linden-Hubbell Monday to face the Lakes. Tuesday, the Blue Bolts will travel to Chassell to battle the Panthers.