GWINN — The Gwinn High School girls basketball team won its conference opener for the first time in nearly a decade with a 50-40 victory over visiting Iron Mountain on Friday night.

The Modeltowners, who improved to 2-0 overall in this combination Mid-Peninsula Conference and West PAC game, hadn’t won a conference opener since the 2010-11 season, according to head coach Ben Olsen.

“We struggled early on, but then we had a real good second quarter,” Olsen said. “We never lost the lead once we got it.”

The Mountaineers jumped out to a 9-2 lead before Gwinn tied it 11-11. Just before the end of the first quarter, IM secured a traditional three-point play to go back ahead 15-11.

But the Modeltowners clamped down in the second quarter, outscoring IM 16-1 to take a 27-16 halftime advantage.

“We’re still struggling somewhat with our concepts defensively,” Olsen said. “We went to a zone-type defense and I think that confused them and got them unbalanced.”

IM pulled back within 30-26 during the third.

“We’d go up 10 or 12 points, then they’d cut it to four or six,” Olsen said. “Trying to put teams away — we’re still struggling with that a bit.”

Gwinn’s Marissa Delmont led all scorers with 15 points, while teammate Emily Curtice added 10. Freshman Lena Pleaugh led Gwinn rebounders with eight, while Megan Ruokolainen had seven as each of those players scored seven points.

Claire Mongrain paced the Mountaineers with 12 points as Annslee Runsat had 10. Tori Sorensen led IM rebounders with seven.

A big difference came at the free-throw line as the Modeltowners only had one more basket. Gwinn was 11 of 16 at the line with IM just 1 of 3.

The Modeltowners, who lost the JV game 48-30, host Houghton on Monday.

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Marquette 44, Traverse City Central 38

In the first of a two-day swing at the Traverse City schools, the Redettes made up for some cold shooting with 39 rebounds, 14 steals and five blocked shots.

Marquette made just 34 percent from the field (18 of 53) and 39 percent at the free-throw line (7 of 18).

But Madson Carter, who had eight points, pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to go with two steals and a block.

Teammate Maria Millado, who led MSHS scorers with 11 points, had eight rebounds, three steals, three assists and three blocks.

And Aspen Michelin scored 10 points to go with six rebounds.

TCC’s Carina Stewart led all scorers with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

The Redettes held a tenuous 10-9 lead after one quarter before TCC tied it 21-21 at halftime. Marquette retook a 31-28 lead after three quarters.

MSHS also won the JV game 42-34 while Central won the freshman game 53-35.

The Redettes play at Traverse City West this afternoon before returning home and playing at Negaunee on Tuesday night.

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Mid Peninsula 62, Republic-Michigamme 28

At St. Nicholas, the Hawks were close in a low-scoring first half before the host Wolverines caught fire on offense.

R-M trailed just 6-5 after one quarter and 23-18 at halftime before Mid Pen raced to a 44-22 advantage after three quarters.

Tailyn Raisanen led the Hawks with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Leah McCracken added 10 points.

Kennedy Englund paced the Wolverines with 22 points, which included a trio of triples.

R-M doesn’t return to action for four weeks when it hosts Mid Pen for a return engagement on Jan. 10.

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Rapid River 54, Superior Central 33

At Rapid River, the Cougars fell into an early hole they couldn’t work their way out of.

The Rockets raced to a 21-4 lead after one quarter as SC came back to within 31-21 at halftime and 39-28 after three quarters.

Emma Rutter lead the Cougars’ offense with 11 points, while Madisyn Tyner added seven and Gloria Johnson and Jessica Walters had six apiece.

Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, SC making 7 of 21 and RR 7 of 19.

The Cougars get right back on the court today when they host Brimley.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.