Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Dollar Bay- Tamarack City’s Evelyn Moilanen (left) looks to pass as Chassell’s Oriana Olson guards her closely on Tuesday in Dollar Bay.

DOLLAR BAY- Coach Devin Schmitz, of the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City girls’ basketball team, summed up his squad’s Tuesday night win against the Chassell Panthers with one word – defense. The Blue Bolts won 50-24.

“Our press forced a lot of steals which led to some easy layups and some fast breaks,” he said. “That is how it should work. I have been preaching that defense wins games, and it showed itself tonight.”

The Blue Bolts held the Panthers to less than 10 points each quarter.

They shot out to a 10-5 lead after one and a 23-8 advantage at half.

“I told the girls to keep working hard, and they did,” noted Schmitz.

“We moved the ball well, and that complimented our defense.”

Turnovers were the Panthers’ nemesis throughout the game.

“It is getting the ball in and up the court that we struggle with,” noted Chassell coach Casana Ryynanen. “With that, it is hard to set up any offense or set plays.”

In the third period, the Blue Bolts outscored the Panthers 13-7. The fourth quarter was much the same with Dollar Bay girls winning14-9.

Evelyn Moilanen led the scoring for the Blue Bolts with 21. This included an impressive 6-6 from the free throw line.

“Evelyn is our typical top scorer, but I liked how a number of other girls got in on the action,” Schmitz added. “We need that. We want to get everybody in on the action.”

Among them were Macy Jurgensen with eight points and Sophie Berryman with six.

Paige Danison led the scoring for Chassell with nine.

UP NEXT

The Blue Bolts head to L’Anse on Thursday to face the Purple Hornets. Meanwhile the Panthers will travel to Lake Linden to face the Lakes on Thursday.