Niagara’s Cameron Schiefelbein (33), at left, and North Dickinson’s Ty King (1) battle for positioning under the basket on Monday in Niagara, Wis. (Sean Chase/Daily News photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — From the opening tip on Monday, it was evident how evenly matched the Niagara and North Dickinson boys varsity basketball teams were.

As a result, those in attendance were treated to a show as the Nordics made the trip to Niagara, Wis. to face the Badgers (4-2).

After entering halftime with a one-point advantage, North Dickinson (6-2) used a 16-point second-half performance from Spencer Kramer to pick up the 60-55 victory.

“I thought it was two evenly-matched teams,” Nordics’ head coach Chris Mattson said. “With 6 minutes to go, we went on a run and got some breathing room. Spencer (Kramer) played a whale of a game along with eight rebounds and a couple of assists. … Overall, (Tommy) Martin is a tough handle and I thought Spencer did a fine job on him. That was our focus.”

Although the game didn’t go the Badgers’ way, head coach Terry Youren was happy with how his team persevered.

“I thought it was a hard-fought game,” Youren said. “Both teams played very hard and, of course, it seems like we always get the team that’s hotter than a firecracker. (Spencer) Kramer was hot and that was it in a nutshell. Overall, it was a hard-played game and for a little while there it could have gone either way.”

With North Dickinson looking to silence Martin, Niagara senior Cameron Schiefelbein picked up the offensive slack. He ended the game with 17 points while going 3 for 3 from the free throw line.

“Those are two big guys for us and they’ve got to contribute,” Youren said. “We needed our guards to play well on the perimeter and shoot better. We didn’t get as much as I expected but, this is the holidays and this is the stuff that happens. It’s the nature of the beast and we just move on from here. I’m very proud of them.”

North Dickinson junior Ty King opened the first half on a mission. He scored seven points in the first six minutes of play and also tallied an assist. That output gave the Nordics a 11-10 advantage.

On the next possession, Dante Stachowicz put Niagara ahead with a corner 3-pointer that forced a Nordics’ time out.

Schiefelbein connected on an and-one layup on the next possession, extending the lead to five points.

But just as it looked like Niagara was going to turn the tides against North Dickinson, Mason Anderson stepped up.

“Mason Anderson hit some key buckets for us,” Mattson said.

He buried back-to-back 3-pointers from the left wing, putting the Nordics back in front by one.

Niagara’s Easton Holmes connected on a long two-point shot as time expired in the first half, cutting the North Dickinson lead to one at half.

Quick baskets from Stachowicz and Schiefelbein tied things at 36 two minutes into the second half. But another 3-pointer from Anderson put the Nordics ahead again. That sparked a run that saw North Dickinson extend its lead to seven points with six minutes to play. It was over from there.

Late in the second half, King picked up his fourth foul. With him in foul trouble, Mattson turned to junior Richard Haney. Although he didn’t score in the game, he did haul down a clutch rebound in the fourth quarter.

“As a role player coming off the bench, you have limited opportunities but I’m happy for him, that rebound was key,” Mattson said. “He works hard, as do all the kids on our team. He’s a very good teammate. He’s willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team and he was ready to play.”

Kramer led all scorers in the contest with 26 points.

North Dickinson also received contributions from King (12 points, 6 assists), Trenton Kramer (6 points), Tyler Fleming (2 points), Brady Jungwirth (5 points) and Anderson (9 points).

Niagara received contributions from Alex Tripp (2 points), Gavin Neuens (8 points), Martin (8 points), Stachowicz (8 points), Holmes (5 points) and Brayden Bartels (7 points).

The Badgers return to action on Friday as they head to Three Lakes, Wis. to face the Bluejays. The Nordics are off until Monday when they face North Central in Powers.

TROJANS 67, BLUE BOLTS 49

HOUGHTON — The Forest Park boys varsity basketball team’s dominance continued on Monday as it made the trip to Michigan Technological University’s Student Development Center for the Lakes Showcase against Dollar Bay.

The Trojans (6-0) easily dispatched the Blue Bolts, 67-49.

Vic Giuliani led Forest Park with 31 points.

He also recorded six rebounds, two assists and three steals.

The Trojans also received contributions from Izaiah Tarter (6 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal), Dax Huuki (7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Matthew Showers (1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block), Aiden Waldo (5 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Kevin Giuliani (18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist).

Forest Park is back in action today at home against Norway for a Skyline Central Conference clash.