Chassell’s Megan Holombo looks to get open in a game against Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Monday at the Ed Helakoski Gym in Chassell. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

CHASSELL — For the second time this season, the Chassell Panthers girls basketball team downed the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts, and both games came down to the wire.

In the opening week of the season, the Panthers squeaked out a 42-39 win, and, on Monday, they met again with the Panthers winning this time, 40-35.

“Our hustle on the floor was key for us tonight,” said Chassell coach Casana Ryynanen. “It is something that we have really been working on this season, and it seemed to come together.”

The two rivals battled to an 8-8 tie after the first eight minutes. In the second, it was tied again at 10 and 12 before Sylvia Allen hit two threes and pushed the Panthers out to a five-point lead at half, 24-19.

Allen led the scoring for Chassell with 14 points, and had a big game, according to her coach.

“She played hard tonight and kept us afloat with her shooting,” Ryynanen said. “I was also pleased with the defensive play of Megan Holombo tonight.”

While the Panthers led by as much as nine in the third (28-19), the Blue Bolts were not going away. They got within five and then three in the waning minutes of the fourth at 36-33.

However, the Panthers kept their cool. Oriana Olson hit a crucial bucket under the hoop and off the glass for the Panthers to push the lead back to five. Then. with less than a minute to go, Chassell’s Whitney Walitalo was fouled and sunk a free throw to secure the victory.

Olson was the Panthers only other player in double figures with 11.

The Blue Bolts had three girls in double figures. They included Adelyn Swain with 13, Aubrey Karppinen, who sunk 11, and Evelyn Moilanen, who scored 10.

“We had our chances, but we missed too many easy shots and layups,” said Dollar Bay coach Devin Schmitz. “We have a lot of little things that add up like that and hurt us. Overall though, we have improved much since the first time we played them. We are better organized and looked like a basketball team out there tonight.”

UP NEXT

The Panthers will welcome Lake Linden-Hubbell to their gym on Thursday. Tip off is set for 5:45 p.m. That same night, the Blue Bolts will tip off at 7:15 p.m. at home against L’Anse.