EWEN — Ewen-Trout Creek opened the girls basketball season with a 44-31 non-conference win over Baraga Thursday night.

The Panthers’ offense perked up in the middle quarters after ending the first quarter down 4-3. They scored 14 points in the second and 18 in the third to take a 35-16 lead.

They had good looks early, but they didn’t start hitting open shots until the third quarter.

“They were all excited for their first game, first-game jitters, shooting a little hard. It took a little while to settle into it,” E-TC coach Jacky Besonen said. “The third quarter was our best quarter by far. It came off of running the floor well and getting some steals. We got the ball moving better. The third quarter is how I’d like us to play the whole game.”

Elise Besonen led E-TC with 15 points and Maddie Cronkright scored 11.Ava Moilanen paced the Panthers with 10 boards.

Baraga made a run to get back in the game in the fourth quarter as Chelsea Pittsley scored eight of her 15 points.

“Proud of our effort tonight,” Baraga coach Tom Goodreau said. “We had a few defensive miscues that E-TC capitalized on that cost us the lead in the second quarter. We made a few runs and were coming on strong in the fourth, but E-TC hit some key shots.”

E-TC (1-0) goes to Chassell Tuesday night in a battle of division favorites, E-TC in the Porcupine Mountain Division of the Copper Mountain Conference and Chassell in the Copper Country Division. Baraga goes to Dollar Bay on the same day.

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Baraga 4 5 7 15 — 31

E-TC 3 14 18 9 — 44

Baraga – Jaylyne Lindemann 5, Courtney Tembreull 4, Allison Durant 7, Chelsea Pittsley 15. FTs: 9-19. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Besonen 2, Cronkright 1.

E-TC – Paige Berglund 2, Abbie LeGault 6, Elise Besonen 15, Brianna Schulz 2, Maddie Cronkright 11, Ava Moilanen 8. FTs: 9-19. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None. 3-pointers: Besonen 2, Cronkright 1.