Hannah Smith of Ishpeming, center, tries to get off a shot as she splits Bark River-Harris defenders Cassidi Stannard, left, and Josie Greenfield Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, in the season-opening girls basketball game at Harris. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Dennis Grall)

HARRIS — Having a veteran team is lights-out fun in a season-opening basketball game, and the Ishpeming Hematites were all smiles because it helped them win their opener.

The Hematites did a lot of the good things veteran teams do down the stretch, securing a 55-39 nonconference girls basketball victory over Bark River-Harris.

The Hematites hit 16 of 19 free throws in the fourth quarter to help thwart a mild threat by BR-H, which ran off seven straight points to draw within 43-37 with 4:06 left.

But veteran teams, and good teams, know how to respond to challenges and the Hematites showed they fit both descriptions by sinking 10 of 12 gift shots over the final 3:58.

Marissa Maino was 4 of 4 over the final 42 seconds and Madigan Johns was 3 of 4 as part of an 11-0 answering burst by the Hematites.

“We sealed it,” Ishpeming coach Ryan Reichel said of the free throw accuracy. “You win games on free throws. That is where we won it.”

That kind of performance is old hat for the Hematites, who shot 70 percent from the line last year to rank in the top 10 in the state.

Reichel said BR-H’s pressure defense got his squad out of whack at one portion of the final frame.

“They caused us to take shots we didn’t want to take,” he said.

Johns, one of five returning starters, scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Reichel said the 5-foot-7 junior guard switched to the point after playing the 4-spot the past two years.

Despite the loss, BR-H first-year coach Josh Eagle was pleased with the overall performance of the Broncos, who started two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore.

“I threw a lot at them the past three weeks,” he said.

Ishpeming, which won the JV game 49-27, hit 16 of 56 shots and had 12 turnovers.