Playing their first home game of the season after six road contests, the Sentinels jumped out to a 21-6 lead after one quarter, according to a game account emailed by MSHS head coach Ben Smith.

Lexi Curran led Marquette with 11 points as teammate Aubree Blackburn added nine.

Both teams are off until after the holidays.

The Sentinels host Great Northern Conference rival Kingsford at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, the early half of a girls-boys doubleheader at the school.

Gwinn’s Adeline Derwin, second from left, goes up for a shot during a high school girls basketball game played against Marquette on the Sentinels’ floor on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The Modeltowners (1-5) play at Mid-Peninsula Conference and West PAC foe Ishpeming at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

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Ishpeming 40, Hancock 32

On Thursday at Hancock, the Hematites pushed over the .500 mark at 3-2 while improving to 2-0 in the West PAC.

In this back-and-forth game, Ishpeming jumped out to a 14-7 lead after one quarter, only to see the host Bulldogs even it up 22-22 at halftime.

The Hematites again raced out to a 33-24 lead at the end of the third quarter and kept Hancock (2-3) at arm’s length in the final period.

“It’s always hard going up to play versus Hancock,” Ishpeming head coach Ryan Reichel said in an email detailing the result. “I think Coach (Ward) Helakoski is one of the top-tier coaches in our area. His kids play so hard and defend so well.

“We lost the rebounding battle by 22 but were able to overcome it by creating some fast breaks on our press.

“Every time we thought we were going to break it open, Hancock would battle back.

“With our youth and inexperience, this was a nice win going into the holiday break.”

Ishpeming’s Peyton Kakkuri and Jenessa Eagle shared game-scoring honors with 14 points apiece, Eagle sinking four 3-pointers and Kakkuri two of the long-range shots. Each made a pair of triples in the opening quarter.

Emery Chynoweth paced the Bulldogs with 11 points, nine coming in the second period.

The Hematites held a bit of an advantage at the free throw line, making 53% (10 of 19) to 40% for Hancock (6 of 15).

Ishpeming doesn’t play again until 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, with a home game against M-PC and West PAC rival Gwinn.

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