Iron Mountain senior Macy Linsenbigler (24) and Kingsford senior Kailey Sundquist (20) wrestle for a rebound on Monday at Flivver Gym. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — With both teams extending their defenses into the full court and both coaches wishing to push the pace offensively, the Kingsford and Iron Mountain girls basketball game on Monday night turned into a lively affair.

In the end, it was the Flivvers who executed their game plan better and held up under the fast tempo more effectively with a 59-42 victory over their neighbors and rivals at Flivver Gym.

Kingsford (2-1) led from wire-to-wire, jumping out to an 11-2 lead halfway through the first quarter. The Mountaineers cut their gap to three in the second period, but the Flivvers pushed their edge to double-figures midway through the third quarter and won going away.

Kingsford first-year varsity coach Ginger Moore talked about the game’s tempo afterwards.

“I definitely want a fast-paced game, but with that being said, sometimes you have to know when you also have to slow it up,” she said. “It’s not always just grab it and go.

“It was a good conditioning game and we were tired, but I think they were more tired than us.”

Senior guard Anna Bortolini began the game with a steal and layup before freshman point guard Aubrie Moore hit a pull-up jumper.

Bortolini followed with another theft and layup.

Sophomore guard Alyvia Kowalski split a pair of free throws, senior Addisyn Kriegl scored in transition and senior post Kailey Sundquist hit a put-back to give the Flivvers early control.

By the halfway point of the first quarter, all Kingsford starters had scored.

“I think we played very well,’ Aubrie Moore said. “We had a ton of energy, which is very important, and I think we worked well as a team.“

Meanwhile, the Mountaineers were forced to chase the game the entire night. And they did so for the most part without senior point guard Gerilis Sampoll Torres, who picked up three fouls in the first five minutes of the game.

“We came out slow and hey, give Kingsford credit, they played tough, they played hard defense and they converted their baskets,” IM coach Chad Lindeman said.

To their credit, the Mountaineers (2-3) survived the early onslaught, and courtesy of a 7-2 run, cut Kingsford’s lead to three with 2:29 remaining in the first half.

Sophomore Alysia Wood started the comeback with her team’s first seven points of the second frame and senior Macy Linsenbigler tallied the final six.

Despite the rally, the Mountaineers’ first-half struggles with turnovers intensified in the third quarter. As the Flivvers piled on the ball pressure with Bortolini and Moore, the Mountaineers sped up and committed six miscues in the period.

Iron Mountain finished with 22 on the evening, while Kingsford had 16.

“No doubt that we have some personnel (with which) we can do just that,” Coach Moore said of her team’s defensive intensity.

“Anna’s a fantastic athlete and moves very, very well and we don’t want (the opposition) to think they can just walk down the floor and start their offense.”

After battling against the scoreboard and the Flivvers’ pressure, the Mountaineers seemed to tire in the fourth.

Kingsford outscored Iron Mountain 11-4 in the first four minutes of the final quarter, building a 52-36 advantage.

Senior guard Abby Przeslakowski scored six points and junior post Cassie Olson added five as Kingsford established an insurmountable lead.

While Lindeman saw his team drop their second straight, he did like the play of senior Bella Pickett.

“(She) is the one that really deserves credit tonight. She played hard on defense and she was all over the floor. She didn’t score a lot of points, but defensively she’s just tough as nails.”

Moore, in just her third varsity game, led the Flivvers with 15 points. The rookie showed the skill, the court awareness and the ball-handling of a future star.

“I think that she grew tonight as a player and I hope she feels the same way,” Coach Moore said of her daughter. “The way you’re going to develop confidence is by seeing and watching yourself do things. If you’re too afraid to do things, you never do that and you’re just going to plateau.

“I’m proud of her and I’m proud of our whole team. I’m just really happy with all of them.”

IRON MOUNTAIN – Sampoll Torres 5, Wicks 2, Pickett 2, Wood 11, Linsenbigler 17, Person 2, Geneva 3. 3-point field goals: 2 (Wood, Geneva).

KINGSFORD – Bortolini 14, Moore 15, Kowalski 5, Kriegl 2, Sundquist 4, Przeslakowski 10, Olson 5, Shaughnessy 2, Olsen 2. 3-point field goals: None.

ESKYMOS 76, LADY TROJANS 55

ESCANABA — Although it fell behind early, the Forest Park girls varsity basketball team battled until the end against Escanaba on Monday.

However, the Lady Trojans couldn’t make up for a slow start and they fell to the Eskymos, 76-55, in Escanaba.

Despite falling to 2-3 on the season, Forest Park head coach Kim Bjork is happy with the effort her team is displaying.

“We had one of our better shooting games tonight,” Bjork said. “We hit 10 threes and that kept us in the game. We went on a run in the third and cut their lead down to five. Our effort is great and we’re going to start winning these competitive games.”

Escanaba jumped out to a 21-8 lead after the first quarter. However, the Lady Trojans rallied with 15 points in the second and 22 in the third to cut the Eskymos’ lead to 55-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

Escanaba found its offensive rhythm again in the final frame and outscored Forest Park, 21-10, to secure the win.

Elsie Williams continued her dominance on the offensive end for the Lady Trojans. She ended the game with 28 points, three assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Forest Park also received contributions from Kaidince Woollard (3 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), Audrey Williams (11 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal), Evie Anderson (3 points), Khali Woollard (2 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds), Aubrey Waara-Shamion (8 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds) and Jessie Loehr (1 assist, 6 rebounds, 5 steals).

The Lady Trojans continue their road trip on Thursday as they head to Eben Junction to face Superior Central.

BRONCOS 56, KNIGHTS 54

NORWAY — With time winding down, the Norway girls varsity basketball team had a chance to end its losing streak at three games on Monday as it faced off with Bark River-Harris.

However, the Knights couldn’t convert in the clutch and the Broncos picked up a 56-54 Skyline Central Conference win in Norway.

Bark River looked in control through the first three quarters and it took a 46-33 lead into the fourth.

Facing a big deficit, the Knights went to work as Lauren Adams pitched in 11 fourth-quarter points and Jessa Rossler added six points. The Knights outscored the Broncos, 19-10 in the frame, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the slow start.

Adams led all scorers in the contest with 26 points.

Norway also received contributions from Mary Cavagnetto (7 points), Rossler (13 points), Payton Carlson (5 points) and Lila Kleikamp (3 points).

The Knights are off until Dec. 30, when they head to Houghton to face Lake Linden-Hubbell in the Lakes Showcase at Michigan Technological University. The game is slated to start at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Daily News sports editor Sean Chase contributed to this report.