Superior Central’s Marissa Strohm prepares to pass to a teammate. The Cougars defeated Stephenson on Thursday.
Photo coutesy of Kris Uehlein
By Ben Murphy
Beacon Correspondent
With the regular season winding down, the Superior Central girls basketball team picked up a solid win Thursday. The Cougars hosted Stephenson and earned a 30-21 victory.
In the opening quarter, Peyton Adams made three field goals, while Addie Frusti hit a 3-pointer to help SC take a 9-2 lead after one.
The second quarter proved difficult for the Cougars, who managed just two points on an Adams field goal and trailed 15-11 at halftime.
SC reclaimed control in the third. Frusti connected on a 3-pointer and another field goal, while Adams added four points as the Cougars moved in front 21-19 entering the fourth.
Frusti’s third 3-pointer of the night highlighted the final quarter as SC closed out the win.
Adams led the Cougars with 13 points. Frusti made three 3s and finished with 11 points. Aubrey Kroupa and Marlene Johnson scored two points each, while Kianna Perron and Marissa Strohm added one point apiece.
SC also dropped a game last week, falling at Norway, 48-25, on Feb. 17.
The Knights led 9-3 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 25-8 at halftime and 40-13 after three.
Kroupa led SC with seven points. Frusti added six, Adams scored five, Strohm had three and Johnson and Harper Frusti finished with two points each.
SC (4-12 overall) played at Rapid River on Tuesday, hosts Engadine on Thursday and welcomes Rapid River on Monday in its district opener.
SC boys snap losing skid
Entering its regular-season finale on a four-game losing streak, the Superior Central boys basketball team righted the ship Friday. The Cougars tamed host Mid Pen, 52-24.
“Our guys were locked in from the opening tip, and it showed on both ends of the floor,” SC head coach Mike Lovell said. “We held Mid Pen to six points in the first quarter and kept them scoreless in the second quarter. That level of intensity was great to see as we head into tournament play.”
Andrew Charlebois made sure the Cougars started well, scoring seven first-quarter points, including a 3-pointer. Ryder Kroupa knocked down an early 3 as well, and SC led 13-6 after one.
Seven more points from Charlebois and five each from Kroupa and Eli Valima helped the Cougars extend their lead in the second quarter, and they were in control at the break, 30-6. Ten third-quarter points from Valima made it 46-19 entering the fourth.
“Offensively, we shared the ball well, finishing with 15 assists on 23 field goals,” Lovell said.
Charlebois led the way with 20 points, adding eight rebounds and three steals. Valima recorded a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Kroupa finished with eight points and 12 assists. Gavin Vining chipped in two points and seven rebounds, while Will Spranger and Jerry Kulik added two points apiece.
On Feb. 17, SC fell at Norway, 82-35.
The Cougars trailed 19-5 after one quarter, 42-16 at halftime and 60-25 after three.
“Norway is a big, physical team that attacked hard for all four quarters,” Lovell said. “As a younger group, this was a valuable lesson in the importance of bringing full intensity for the entire 32 minutes.”
Charlebois led SC with 11 points and seven rebounds. Kroupa had nine points and five assists, Valima added six points, Vining scored four, Spranger had three and Sam Charlebois added two points.
SC (11-10 overall) opens district tournament play at home tonight against Munising. The winner moves on to the district final Friday against the survivor of the matchup between North Dickinson and Rapid River. The district champion advances to a regional semifinal Tuesday in Kingsford.