In what was anybody’s game for the first half, the Ontonagon Gladiators girls basketball team appeared to be in control of their game Tuesday against the Calumet Copper Kings. Over the final eight minutes, the Copper Kings held the Gladiators scoreless while scoring 11 points and earning a 44-36 victory.

The loss was Ontonagon’s first of the season.

Holly Wardynski and Jenny Labyak combined for nine of the Gladiators’ 13 first-quarter points, but it was not enough to overcome Calumet’s Celia Kiiiunen, who put up six points and a timely three-pointer from Elli Djerf as the Copper Kings potted 15.

In the second quarter, Teddy Menigoz powered Ontonagon’s offense with nine points, including a three from the corner.

The Copper Kings scored by committee to attempt to keep pace as Kiilunen added four more points and made some timely passes. Ava Anderson drained a three, and Marybeth Halonen added two points as the Copper Kings led 26-24 at the half.

In a tightly-contested third quarter, Calumet struggled to find time and space to get shots off and the Gladiators got five points each from Menigoz and Fahren Kolpack to score 12 points in the quarter and take a lead, 36-33, into the fourth.

The Copper Kings found their groove in the fourth and used five points from Molly Larson and two points each from Vera Peterson and Jana Loukus to help Calumet hold on for the win.

Menigoz led all scorers with 14 points. Anderson and Kiilunen each picked up 10 points for the Copper Kings.

Calumet 15 11 7 11 – 44

Ontonagon 13 11 12 0 – 36

CLK: Anderson 10, Kiilunen 10, Larson 7, Djerf 5, Halonen 3, Peterson 4, Loukus 4, Torola 1; 3-point field goals: Djerf 1, Anderson 1

ONT: Labyak 4, Wardynski 7, Kolpack 7, Uotila 2, T. Menigoz 14, E. Menigoz 2; 3-point field goals: T. Menigoz 2, Wardynski 1, Kolpack 1