Calumet senior Jackie Kiilunen (4) goes to the basket for a layup during a MHSAA Division 3 state quarterfinal game against Sanford-Meridian Tuesday at Manistique High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press (Escanaba))

MANISTIQUE — Another strong defensive effort led Calumet girls basketball to a 48-33 victory over Sanford-Meridian in a Division 3 state quarterfinal matchup here Tuesday.

The Copper Kings forced 29 Mustangs turnovers which proved to be the deciding factor.

“Calumet is a good team,” Mustangs coach Tanner Smith said. “They have a great defensive philosophy. They do a good job of getting live ball turnovers and converting them to baskets on the other end.”

The Mustangs led only once in the game as they took a 17-16 lead on a layup by freshman Lily LaFave. Calumet answered with a 3-pointer by sophomore Bailey Strom to put the Copper Kings up 19-17 going into the halftime break.

Calumet came out in the third quarter with a 7-0 highlighted by the second 3-pointer by Strom and layups by Strom and Jess Anderson to extend the Copper Kings’ lead to 26-17.

“We have to keep our focus,” Strom said. “We have to continue to pressure the ball on defense which is what got us to this point.”

Kiirsi Johnson hit a 3-pointer for the Copper Kings to extend the lead to 31-22 . Johnson had nine of her 12 points in the second half.

Halen McLaughlin led the way for the Mustangs scoring 24 of the team’s 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds to go with four steals.

Calumet opened the game on a 7-1 run. The Mustangs answered with a 6-3 run to pull within three at 10-7.

The Copper Kings led 16-9 early in the second stanza. A 8-0 run by the Mustangs gave them their only lead in the contest.

“Halen is a stud,” Calumet coach Charlie Kemppainen said. “We knew we were in for a fight from her and holding her to 24 points was kind of a win for us because she’s that good of a player. And I can’t even tell you how proud I am of these girls for the way they have battled this season.”

UP NEXT

Calumet will face Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest at noon Thursday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.