Superior Central sophomore Andrew Charlebois (blue jersey) attempts to prevent the ball from landing out of bounds during a game against Big Bay de Noc on Jan. 30, 2025 at Big Bay de Noc Schools. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GARDEN CORNERS — Homecoming was filled with good and not so good for Big Bay de Noc basketball against rival Superior Central on Thursday.

The Black Bears rallied to win the girls matchup 29-25, but fell to the Cougars 46-34 in the boys game.

Girls action saw the Black Bears (12-2) fall behind in the first half. The usual game plan is to feed junior Caragan Thill in the paint. But the Cougars (8-7) clogged the paint, creating confusion for Big Bay’s back court.

The Cougars carried a 12-7 lead at halftime after forcing 10 Black Bear turnovers.

Big Bay found momentum and Thill in the third quarter, outsourcing the Cougars 14-7 in the frame for a 21-19 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Superior claimed a 22-21 lead off a 3-pointer from junior Addi Frusti, but the Black Bears rattled off the game’s next six points, including four from Thill, for a 27-22 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Frusti connected with another 3-point shot with 1:46 to go to climb within two points. The Big Bay’s Macy Peterson made the play of the game. The senior opted not to dribble out the clock, but instead drive down the baseline and attempt a wide-open layup. She connected, and the Black bears led 29-25 with 58 seconds left.

“To be honest, I almost called timeout there right before she shot it,” Black Bears coach Bob Pederson admitted. “I thought (Superior Central) was going to shift over and get a block. It was a good shot.”

The Cougars didn’t have an answer despite multiple opportunities in the game’s final 58 seconds.

“We have to take care of the ball better,” Cougars coach Skip Rutter said. “We don’t do a great job of that. But we just need a strong bounce back.”

While the girls game treated fans to a nail-biting finish, the boys game was the polar opposite, and it was thanks to Cougars’ junior Blake Tanner, who connected four times from 3-point range for 12 of his 14 first-half points to put Superior Central (6-9) ahead 30-14 at intermission.

“He has a nose and a knack for making plays,” Cougars coach Adam Ely said of Tanner. “He makes plays that make me want to pull my hair out, and then he turns around and makes up for it right away.”

Tanner finished with 22 points. The Black Bears (5-9) never had a lead.

“We’re a super young team. We’re making easy mistakes still at this point of the year, and that’s on me,” Black Bears’ coach Gunnar Mickelson said. “I’m playing a lot of freshmen a lot of minutes, but we have to perform better as a team.”

Girls box score

Big Bay de Noc 4 3 14 8 — 29

Superior Central 6 6 7 6 — 25

Big Bay de Noc — M. Peterson 2, Bleau 1, Pederson 6, Thill 17, Morris 3; FT: 2-11; Fouls: 14; 3-point baskets: Morris 1

Superior Central — Hancock 3, Strohm 6, Johnson 4, Adams 6, Frusti 6; FT: 6-11; Fouls: 14; 3-point baskets: Frusti 2, Hancock 1

Boys box score

Big Bay de Noc 10 4 11 9 — 34

Superior Central 15 15 6 10 — 46

Big Bay de Noc — Desjarden 6, Rochefort 5, Pederson 21, Gembel 2; FT: 2-6; Fouls: 12; 3-point baskets: Pederson 3, Rochefort 1

Superior Central — Kroupa 10, Charlebois 2, Begovac 4, Tanner 22, Bigger 8; FT: 0-2; Fouls: 8; 3-point baskets: Tanner 4, Kroupa 2