By Journal Sports Staff

RUDYARD — Senior Taylor Bryant recorded her second consecutive triple-double and third of the season in Newberry’s easy 71-32 victory at Rudyard in girls basketball action on Friday night.

Bryant, a senior who has been named Class D all-state the past two seasons, scored 25 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 11 assists as the Indians raced to a 45-15 halftime lead. She also made five steals.

She also had a triple-double in Newberry’s last game before the holiday break against Manistique.

“I was worried with such a long layoff since the Christmas break, but we came out and shot the ball well in the first half,” Indians coach Fred Bryant said. “The girls really attacked them on defense.”

Bryant’s freshman sister Makenna Bryant added 14 points, while Rudyard was paced by Cierra Molina with 13.

Newberry also won the JV game 28-15.

Mid Peninsula 44, Republic-Michigamme 16

At St. Nicholas, the visiting Hawks struggled with Mid Pen’s pressure defense early on and were unable to score in the first half.

The Wolverines raced to a 24-0 lead after one quarter and made it 29-0 at halftime.

Led by junior Shawna DuMoulin, however, R-M’s offense came alive in the fourth quarter as the Hawks held a 10-5 scoring edge.

DuMoulin shared top scoring honors with MP’s Kennedy Englund as each had 11 points.

“They pressed us and we had a difficult time with it in the first half,” R-M coach April Radcliffe said. “We started turning things around in the third quarter, and by the fourth, we just started being a little more aggressive.”

DuMoulin was fouled several times in the second half and went 6 of 6 at the free throw line.

Mid Pen also won the JV game, 28-22.

Next up are back-to-back three-game weeks for the Hawks, starting with a home game against Baraga on Tuesday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.