CALUMET — Calumet scored 26 first-quarter points en route to a 51-38 victory over Marquette in a high school girls basketball game played at the Copper Kings gym on Monday evening.

Calumet has won four in a row with a roster of two seniors, a junior, five sophomores and three freshmen.

“I thought we competed well,” Copper Kings coach Charlie Kemppainen said. “Caitlyn (Strom) and Bailey Strom brought a lot of energy, and everyone followed their lead. Those two brought it on the defensive end as well.”

The Copper Kings only gave up 17 points over the first three quarters.

“I saw our kids play tremendously defensively,” Kemppainen said.

Marquette coach Ben Smith felt his team had struggled for awhile.

“It’s kind of the rut we’re in — we turn it over too much and we struggled against their zone (defense),” he said. “I think we had three or four kids with a couple of fouls, if not three (fouls), in the first half, so it changed how we could play a little bit.”

Smith was not entirely disappointed in his team’s performance and felt they played strong to the end, outscoring Calumet 18-2 in the fourth quarter.

“The girls kind of battled through and competed,” he said. “We had a nice little push at the end, but it’s got to be earlier than that. You can’t dig a hole; it has to be from the start.”

Caitlyn Strom had a big night, leading the Copper Kings with 24 points. Millie Loukus added eight, while Neva McParlan and Bailey Strom each scored five.

Kyley Elmblad led Marquette with 12 points as Brianna Anderson chipped in with 11.

The game started as a back-and-forth affair until the Copper Kings blew the doors open. Marquette had a 5-4 lead, but the score by the end of the opening quarter was 26-7 Calumet.

The home team continued to dominate in the second quarter, taking a 38-12 halftime advantage.

Calumet did not let off the gas, but the third quarter was much closer. The visitors lost the quarter by only three, 11-8. Heading into the final frame, the Copper Kings led 49-20.

Marquette hosts Menominee on Friday.