Kingsford senior Abby Przeslakowski (1) battles for a rebound with Westwood defender Lexi Olson (4) on Thursday in Flivver Gym. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — It was an emotional night in Flivver Gym for the Kingsford girls varsity basketball team on Thursday.

Prior to the game against Westwood, the Flivvers honored their five seniors – Abby Przeslakowski, Addisyn Kriegl, Kailey Sundquist, Anna Bortolini and Taylor Anderson.

All five seniors started the game for Kingsford (10-11, 4-4), however, it couldn’t stop the Patriots (13-9, 6-6) in the second half and it fell 42-35 in a non-conference game.

Westwood opened the scoring in the first quarter converting a steal into an easy layup. However, Przeslakowski responded immediately with a layup to tie things at two. Then the wheels fell off momentarily.

The Patriots knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing and then stole back-to-back Kingsford inbound passes and turned them into layups. Three minutes into the game, Westwood led 9-2.

The Flivvers called a timeout to stop the run. They leaned on junior Cassie Olson in the paint and she tallied four points. Alyvia Kowalski also added three and the game was tied.

Westwood escaped the frame with a 10-9 advantage.

Kingsford freshman Aubrie Moore took over the second quarter. She knocked down three 3-pointers and tallied 11 total points. Olson and Bortolini each added two and the Flivvers took a 25-20 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter was all Westwood. It rattled off a 9-0 run in the first three minutes, to take the lead back. The Patriots kept up the defensive pressure in the final five minutes of the frame, and held a 36-29 lead after three.

Olson kicked off the fourth with back-to-back baskets in the paint for Kingsford.

That output cut the Westwood lead to three points with 6:45 remaining. But that was as close as the Flivvers would get.

Kingsford found itself at the charity stripe 19 times in the contest. However, it only made four of those shots. Westwood went 8-for-15. The Flivvers also made three 3-pointers.

Olson led Kingsford with 13 points.

The Flivvers also received contributions from Przeslakowski (2 points), Moore (11 points), Kowalski (5 points) and Bortolini (4 points).

Lexi Olson led the Patriots with 20 points.

Kingsford opens MHSAA Division 2 District 33 action on the road against Escanaba on Monday.

KNIGHTS 56, EAGLES 31

NORWAY — As the season has progressed, the Norway girls basketball team has consistently improved. On Thursday, the Knights (13-9, 6-2) showed off those improvements, downing Stephenson, 56-31, at home on senior night.

Prior to the game, Norway honored its three seniors — Mary Cavagnetto, Anna Falk and Abby Richter.

The Knights started slow in the first quarter, but the Eagles couldn’t contain junior Lauren Adams. She made two 3-pointers in the frame while Cavagnetto added another and they led 9-6 entering the second.

Stephenson found its footing in the next quarter, outscoring Norway, 12-11. Adams led the home team with five points while Falk pitched in four.

At halftime, the Eagles trailed 20-17.

After the break, the Knights went to work from outside. They connected on four 3-pointers in eight minutes. Cavagnetto paced Norway with six points. It outscored Stephenson, 20-3, in the third.

The Knights kept up the pace in the fourth, scoring 16 points to secure the win.

Adams led all scorers in the game with 23 points.

Norway also received contributions from Richter (2 points), Cavagnetto (10 points), Falk (4 points), Jessa Rossler (7 points), Paytan Carlson (3 points) and Lila Kleikamp (7 points).

The Knights have a first-round bye in the MHSAA Division 4 District 99 first round. They begin postseason play on Wednesday.