Hancock coach Ward Helakoski gives his Bulldogs some last minute strategy in the girls’ game against the Houghton Gremlins on Friday in Hancock.

HANCOCK — Wing Ding basketball was in full effect Friday night at the Hancock High School gym. The opener featured a close girls’ battle between the Houghton Gremlins and the Hancock Bulldogs in front of a packed crowd and a lively pep band.

While the Gremlins led from the start, the Bulldogs came back to win the rivalry matchup by three, 44-41.

Two triples by the Gremlins opened the game and put the Houghton five up 6-4. It was then tied at eight before the Bulldogs went up 12-11 after one. It was still close after two with the Bulldogs now leading 24-21 as the two teams went to the locker room.

“We controlled tempo and limited their runs,” noted coach Ward Helakoski, of the Bulldogs. “The Gremlins are a team that can score in bunches, I don’t think we gave them that.”

The Bulldogs went up by as much as six in the third at 35-29. However the Gremlins were not giving up as they came within two at 39-41 with less than a minute to go. However, the Bulldogs Lydia Pelli hit a jumper to put her squad up and teammate Emery Chynoweth sealed the deal with a free throw to end the one.

Chynoweth led the scoring for the Bulldogs with 17. Pelli sunk 13.

“Lydia was key for us in the end there,” added her coach. “She came up big. She has good instincts on the floor and good game to her. Emery was equally strong tonight on both end of the court She got the big rebounds and controlled our offense. That is what you want your captain to do and she did. I am just happy for the girls. Their hard work is paying off.”

Eva Gerard led the scoring for the Gremlins with 13. According to Houghton coach Julie Filpus, this wasn’t a good night for her team.

“Perhaps we were resting on our laurels. We had a nice win against Marquette earlier this week, and we were just flat,” she explained. “We seemed distracted by everything going on and just couldn’t get thing going tonight.”

UP NEXT

The Gremlins will play Calumet on Monday. The Bulldogs head to Westwood on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

The Gremlins will play Calumet on Monday. The Bulldogs head to Westwood on Tuesday.

BOYS’ GAME

Houghton 61, Hancock 21

The Wing Ding trophy for the boys will remain in Houghton as they kept the Bulldogs on a tight leash in a 61-21 thrashing. It was a game in which the Gremlins proved to be a more experienced and stronger team from the opening tip. So much so, they led by 40 points at half at 44-4.

With the clock now running to start the last two quarters, Gremlins coach Jared Lawson was able to get his bench players in.

“It is always good to be able to do that,” noted Lawson. “They did well and worked hard.”

Hancock’s best quarter was the third as they outscored the Gremlins 8-6. Gage Chynoweth led the scoring for the Bulldogs with 10.

Houghton bounced back to win the last eight minutes 11-9 and keep their name on the trophy. Lane Laux poured in 14 as the Gremlins’ top scorer.

“It’s always nice to win Wing Ding,” added Lawson. “It’s a good honor for these guys to put another year on that trophy and have Houghton next to it . You don’t lose Wing Ding, and you don’t lose Copper Bowl – that is the culture here.”

UP NEXT

The Gremlins will face Marquette on Tuesday at home. The Bulldogs will travel to West Iron County that same night.