The shorthanded Huron basketball team hung with Hillman for the first few minutes but ultimately wore down in a 47-29 loss Tuesday. Rogers City played with only six players, as Jenny Fleming stayed home ill and Simone Kapala was out injured. ?Defensively we were alright, but we have to do a better job handling the ball. We have to make sure we get a shot every time,? said coach Karl Grambau. Chelsea Brege?s jumper gave the Hurons a quick lead and the teams traded misses and turnovers until Hillman took the lead at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter. The Tigers led 6-4 after a low scoring first quarter.

DANA FAIRBANKS tied the score when she hit an inside shot in the opening minute of the second quarter. Then the Tigers went on a 17-3 run to head into halftime with a 23-9 lead. The only Huron points of the third quarter came on consecutive possessions. Jenny Smith connected on a jumper from the left corner and then Laura Konieczny hit a short banker in the midst of a 13-4 quarter in favor of the Tigers.

HILLMAN LED 45-

18 with three minutes left before a Huron spurt cut the final margin of loss to 18. ?This year we have worked on a lot of defensive things. Next year we will have to work on offense,? Grambau said. Fairbanks led the team in scoring with 11, including 3-of-4 from the line in the fourth quarter. Konieczny had six points while Brege added five. Rogers City hit 10-of-22 from the free throw line.

LAST THURSDAY at home, Sault Ste. Marie saddled the Hurons with a 66-32 loss. The Soo led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter and 25-14 at the half. Fairbanks led the team in scoring with 10 while Fleming added nine.

THE JV nearly picked up its first win of the season in Hillman Tuesday. The Hurons fell behind 16-5 after the first quarter and trailed 31-17 at halftime. Hillman took a 43-27 lead into the final frame before the Hurons rallied. Sammi Brege converted a nice pass from Anna Wickersham for a basket to cut the Tigers? lead to five with 2:50 left in the game. But that is as close as the Hurons would get in a 51-43 loss. Moni Cercone led the team with 16 points while Wickersham had 13 and Blake Bruning added eight. Last Thursday the Huron JV lost to Sault Ste. Marie 72-6.