L’Anse’s Bailey Froberg converts a fast-break layup during the first half of a home game against Lake Linden-Hubbell on Thursday. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by Bryce Derouin)

L’ANSE — Despite having just six players available, three of them freshmen, the L’Anse Purple Hornets could be legitimate contenders in the West PAC this season.

After a victory over the Chassell Panthers — the defending Class D district champions — on Tuesday, L’Anse earned a dominating 56-32 nonconference win over the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes Thursday in L’Anse.

“It’ll be a while before they take us serious when you’re so young and so small. I think it’ll take until the middle of the season,” L’Anse head coach Scott Lloyd said. “This is all a big learning curve.”

L’Anse’s quickness and athleticism are facets of the team that can be a constant force. The Purple Hornets (2-0) outrebounded LL-H 40-28 while forcing 21 turnover out of the Lakes.

Add in a go-to scorer like senior Bailey Froberg, who led the way with 19 points Thursday after scoring 21 against Chassell, and the Purple Hornets begin taking the form of a complete team.

LL-H took an early 12-8 lead after one quarter before L’Anse switched to 3-2 zone.

The Lakes (1-1) struggled the rest of the way, scoring just 20 more points over the final three quarters and shooting 8 of 32 during that span. 

“They didn’t have anyone that was really looking to shoot from the perimeter,” Lloyd said. “I like to have the three across the top, because that’s where most of your 3-point shooters are — above the top of the key as well as elbow extended to the wings. That’s why we protect those three spots.”

“The girls got tight and forced things,” LL-H head coach Maureen Schick said. “If I put a barn out there, I’m not sure they would have hit the broad side of it. It was that bad in the second quarter.”

L’Anse lit it up in the third quarter, starting the second half on a 15-3 spurt. Freshman Addison Mattson, junior Taylor Brown and Froberg each connected from beyond the arc during the Purple Hornets’ run, and L’Anse finished the third 10 of 17 from the field to take a commanding 46-21 lead.

“I see them shoot like that every day, but now the girls are starting to have that confidence,” Lloyd said. 

L’Anse junior Taylor Brown recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Mattson finished with 10 points. Senior Alexis Francois sat the majority of the first quarter after taking two fouls in the first minute, but still managed to score eight points and grab 10 rebounds.

“Taylor Brown played one of her best games that I have had after coaching her in the last two years,” Lloyd said.

L’Anse will test itself against traditional West PAC power Houghton on Tuesday.