CARNEY — Taking care of the basketball paid off for the Carney-Nadeau girls in a 51-28 victory over Powers North Central on Veteran’s Night here Monday.

The Wolves, who turned the ball over just eight times, broke open this Skyline Central Conference Small Division match-up in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve done a pretty good job taking care of the ball in the last couple games,” Wolves’ coach Paul Polfus said. “Our defense also played solid. We’ve been playing the gaps and tonight I thought we did a pretty good job.”

Junior Maycee Murray sank a 16-foot jump shot to bring the Jets within 33-24 with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

The Jets then had a couple opportunities to shave their deficit to seven points, but came up empty.

“The girls played tough,” Jets’ coach Brooke Granquist said. “They’re definitely improving in every game and showing they can compete.”

The Wolves responded with nine unanswered points, pushing their lead to 42-24 on an eight-foot set shot by senior Mariska Laurila early in the fourth stanza.

“North Central has some good players,” Polfus said. “They played real well defensively and have good size inside. They rebounded well. If they keep working at it, they’ll definitely get better.”

North Central took an early 4-2 lead before the Wolves answered with an 8-0 run, taking a 10-4 lead on a layup by Laurila late in the opening frame.

The Jets were within 14-9 following a jumper from the lane by freshman forward Addison Otradovec.

C-N scored the next six points, increasing their lead to 20-9 on Laurila’s 15-foot jumper with 3:22 remaining in the second.

Otradovec sank a jumper from the boulevard to pull the Jets within 20-11.

The Wolves, however, took a 23-11 advantage into the halftime locker room.

“Mariska had a good night which is not surprising,” Granquist said. “We knew we had to play guard her and Grace Maule. I thought we did a good job on Grace, but it’s hard to stop good shooters when they’re that much on fire. We just didn’t have an answer for Mariska.”

The Wolves threatened to pull away in the third quarter.

North Central, however, got within 29-20 on a pair of free throws by senior Kate Linder midway through the third.

Laurila finished with 28 points and Maule added eight for the Wolves, who improved to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in their division.

“Mariska does a pretty good job finding the gaps and sliding through,” Polfus said. “Except for Mariska, we didn’t shoot very well tonight.”

Otradovec hit 10 points and Linder had eight for the Jets, who committed 21 turnovers.

“Addi is a good all-around player and she’s only a freshman,” Granquist said. “As a power forward we ask her to do a lot. I’m super proud of Kate and Addi and Dalyn (Otradovec) got a lot of rebounds.”

The Jets (0-14 overall, 0-4 league) host Stephenson Thursday and the Wolves, who honored their area veterans in a pre-game ceremony, host the Eagles Monday.

Box score

North Central 7 4 13 4 — 28

Carney-Nadeau 12 11 15 13 — 51

Powers North Central — Linder 8, A. Otradovec 10, D. Otradovec 4, Murray 2, Triest 2, Willa 2. FT: 3-4; F: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goal: Linder

Carney-Nadeau — Castle 5, DuPont 3, Laurila 28, Maule 8, Laurin 3, Wolf 2, Ernest 2. FT: 2-7; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Castle, DuPont, Laurin