Photo courtesy Cara Kamps Members of the Ewen-Trout Creek girls basketball team, including head coach Jacky Besonen, left, pose with their MHSAA Division 4 girls basketball regional tournament championship trophy after playing Norway at Marquette Senior High School on Wednesday.

MARQUETTE — A late surge made the difference for the Ewen-Trout Creek girls in a 54-44 basketball triumph over Norway in a Division 4 regional final here Wednesday night.

This marked the first regional title in two decades for the No. 2 Panthers, who face No. 1 St. Ignace in a state quarterfinal contest Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Gladstone. The Knights, who overcame a 0-5 start, finished 16-10.

“They played very well,” E-TC coach Jacky Besonen said. “They’re outside shooting kept them in the game. We moved the ball well against their 1-2-2 zone and hit some good shots in the end.”

Norway got within 42-41 on a 20-foot jump shot from the left wing by junior center Paytan Carlson midway through the fourth quarter.

An 11-0 run by E-TC put the game out of reach, gaining a 53-41 advantage on a free throw by junior center Irelynd McGeshick with slightly more than a minute remaining.

“We turned a lot of our defense into offense,” E-TC freshman guard Bree Besonen said. “We got real solid which gave us confidence down the stretch. Norway looked a little tired in the end, although they played real well. They knocked down a lot of shots. St. Ignace, for sure will be a tough game, but we’re glad to have a chance to play them.”

The Knights got the start they wanted, gaining a 12-4 lead on a running jumper from the lane by junior guard Lauren Adams with 1:50 left in the opening frame.

Bree Besonen drained a pair of free throws to bring the Panthers within 12-6.

A steal and layup at the buzzer by Adams gave Norway a 14-6 cushion and Carlson’s jumper from top of the key made it 17-6 early in the second stanza.

The Knights held a 19-10 lead following senior Mary Cavagneto’s jumper from the boulevard with 4:40 remaining in the second.

E-TC answered with a 9-0 run, tying the score on a layup by McGeshick with 2:40 left in the second.

The score was tied at 21 with 45 seconds left in the second quarter when Carlson sank a jumper from top of the key to put Norway ahead 24-21.

Norway led 29-23 early in the third before E-TC rallied to tie the score at 32 on a lay-in by Bree Besonen with 1:48 remaining in that quarter.

The teams see-sawed through the remainder of the third before freshman center McKayla Basel hit a six-foot set shot on a pass from junior Emma Besonen, giving the Panthers a 36-35 lead.

Norway took its last lead on a running five-foot jumper by Adams and free throw by Cavagnetto early in the fourth.

Bree Besonen’s 18-foot jumper tied the contest at 38. Emma Besonen added a field goal and Bree sank a pair of gifters to send the Panthers ahead 42-38.

“Emma got a steal and hit a big layup (late in the fourth) which I think may have taken the wind out of their sails,” coach Besonen said. “I’m just real proud of the girls. We know St. Ignace has a great basketball program. We’re just glad to get the opportunity to play them.”

Bree Besonen finished with 25 points and Emma Besonen had 11 for the Panthers, who hit 12-of-15 free throws and committed 10 turnovers.

Carlson sank five 3-point shots and scored 17 points and Adams hit 15 for Norway. The Knights had 13 miscues.

UP NEXT

Ewen-Trout Creek is off until Tuesday, March 18, when they head to Gladstone to face St. Ignace. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m