Superior Central sophomore Ryder Kroupa brings the ball up the court against Big Bay de Noc on Jan. 7, 2025 at Superior Central High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

EBEN JUNCTION — A well rounded team effort led Superior Central to a pair of victories over Big Bay de Noc in a boys and girls doubleheader here Tuesday. The girls held on for a 45-44 win, while the boys won 41-33.

In the girls game the Cougars took a 25-18 lead into the halftime break.

The Black bears came out hot in the third quarter as they outscored the Cougars 17-6. Payton Pederson hit a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to 25-20. Sammy Johnson responded for the Cougars as she drove to the basket and drew the foul and converted both foul shots. Moments later, Black Bears senior Dixie Morris hit a 3-pointer and the Cougars lead was cut to four.

With the Cougars leading 29-23, Big Bay went on a 6-0 run including a 3-pointer by Lila Morris and a layup by Caragan Thill to tie the game at 29.

“The third quarter was rough,” Cougars girls coach Skip Rutter said. “Our energy wasn’t as high and when we switched over to man we should have switched back sooner because our 2-3 zone was doing pretty well.”

The Cougars came back in the fourth quarter as Peyton Adams opened the fourth with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 35-34. Rory Hancock came up with a steal and drove to the basket for a layup and the Cougars regained the lead at 36-35.

Lila Morris connected on her third 3-pointer to put the Black Bears back in front 38-36. Moments later Pederson connected on a mid-range jumper to give Big Bay a 40-36 lead.

With the Black Bears leading 41-38, Marissa Strohm hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 41. Then knocked down a corner jumper with a foot on the line for two to put the Cougars up 43-31.

Big Bay took the lead back on the fourth 3-pointer on the night from Lila Morris to give the Black Bears a 44-43 lead.

Sammy Johnson responded with a rebound and put back to give the Cougars a 45-44 lead. The Black Bears launched a shot as time expired but came up empty.

“We are starting to come together as a team,” Adams said. “This win boosts our confidence and gets us ready for the games coming up.”

In the boys game, the Black Bears hit four first quarter 3-pointers including two of them by freshman Tanner Peterson and the Black Bears led 16-10 after one quarter.

In the second quarter the two teams were scoreless for the first half of the quarter. Cougars junior Blake Tanner drove through the lane for a layup with 3:57 to go in the half. Ryder Kroupa hit back-to-back shots to tie the game at 16.

“This is a rivalry game,” Kroupa said. “Both teams play well against each other. The last four games between us have been one score games so it really gets you going.”

The Black Bears responded as Mason Gembel and Parker Pederson each scored a basket to give the Black Bears a 20-16 lead.

The game went to the fourth quarter tied at 25. Zander Bigger drove to the basket for the layup to give the Cougars a 27-25 lead. Andrew Charlebois hit a 3-pointer to extend the Cougars lead to 30-25.

“We challenged Zander to win the matchup against DesJarden,” Cougars boys coach Adam Ely said. “If we are going to win a district he has to win that matchup.”

Zander Bigger had seven of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. The Black Bears cut the deficit to one at 32-31 on a mid-range jumper by junior Joey Rochefort but that was as close as they would get as the Cougars pulled away.

“This is a win we can feel really good about,” Ely said. ” This is our rival, the last four games were decided by a basket. That’s the definition of a rivalry these teams always play well against each other and when you win a game like that it’s something to feel good about.”

Superior Central boys return to action tonight as they host North Dickinson. The girls return to action Friday as they travel to North Central. Big Bay returns to action tonight as they host Rapid River in a boys and girls doubleheader.

Girls box score

Big Bay de Noc 9 9 17 9 — 44

Superior Central 10 15 6 14 — 45

Big Bay de Noc — Peterson 8, Bleau 3, Pederson 6, D. Morris 5, Thill 9, Harvey 1, L. Morris 12. FT: 7-19; F: 14; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: L. Morris 4, Peterson 2, D. Morris 1.

Superior Central — Hancock 4, Strohm 9, Johnson 10, Adams 14, Frusti 8. FT: 10-18; F: 14; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Adams 2, Strohm 1

Boys box score

Big Bay de Noc 16 4 5 8 — 33

Superior Central 10 6 9 16 — 41

Big Bay de Noc — DesJarden 4, Max Pomeroy 2, Rochefort 4, Pederson 11, Peterson 6, Gembel 6. FT: 1-4; F: 10; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Peterson 2, Pedrson 1, Gembel 1.

Superior Central — Kroupa 11, Charlebois 3, Tanner 11, Bigger 16. FT: 3-5; F: 3; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Bigger 2, Kroupa 1, Charlebois 1