Beaver Dam got as close as 5 points in the second half.
Laconia responded by turning up the defensive intensity and busted the game open on its way to a 62-40 nonconference win against the D2 No. 5 Beavers.
The Spartans, which are No. 3 in D3, used a 14-3 run over a span of 8:18 to regain control. Part of that run involved Laconia switching back to a 1-3-1 defense and forcing live-ball turnovers on three straight possessions.
Laconia (15-2) also got back to patient offense with possessions that lasted 30 seconds or longer with excellent off-the-ball movement and making the extra pass.
"We're a pretty tough team to beat if we don't beat ourselves," Coach Chris Morgan said. "I just thought we did a great job of reading what the defense gave us.
"It's hard to take away everything in [our] offense and our kids just did a great job of just reading what the defense was going to give them."
During that run, Molly Duel scrapped together a pair of offensive rebounds that earned second-chance opportunities for her team.
Duel said the emphasis has been to work for good looks on offense and earning extra possessions, which can demoralize a defense.
"I think we play the best when we move the ball," Duel said. "We've been working a lot in practice on getting those extra passes and keeping the possession alive.
"Sometimes our first shots don't fall and that happens, but when you're able to keep the possession alive with those offense rebounds, I think it makes a really big impact on the game."
In total, the Spartans outscored Beaver Dam 31-17 in the second half.
Finley Morgan sparked Laconia early in both halves. She finally saw the proverbial lid come off the basket, scoring a game-high 21 points.
Morgan got going early, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers within the first five six minutes of the game. She said knowing her teammates trusted her allowed her to get her confidence back.
"I've been having kind of a confidence issue lately and just knowing that my teammates are always there, Aubrey Leonard is really always trying to find me on open shots," Morgan said. "We all just work the ball and the open 3s are there."
Chris Morgan said everyone surrounding Finley knew she would break out of the tough stretch eventually. He said he had an assignment for her before Monday's game.
"She was doubting herself," Chris said. "I don't care how good a coach you are or how good a parent you are, sometimes that's really tough to get that back. "I told her today to just watch all of her makes on the season and hopefully that was just going to show what a great shooter she is."
Both Tierney Madigan and Aubrey Leonard joined Finley in double figures. Madigan scored 15 and Leonard had 11.
Beaver Dam (14-5) struggled to stay in front of either player in the first half. Madigan scored twice on back-door cuts to the hoop and Leonard found success driving hard to the hoop. Madigan said that getting the ball into the paint also helps the shooting.
"Our inside-out action, whenever there's a pass coming straight at one of our girls on the 3-point line, I feel like we make a lot more of those shots than when [the pass] is coming from the side," Madigan said. "We just move the ball so well."
Leonard also surpassed the 400-assist mark for her career.
Nataya Donaldson led Beaver Dam with 12 points, but she scored just 2 in the second half. Payton Morgan was the primary defender on Donaldson when she was on the floor.
PHOTO GALLERY: Beaver Dam at Laconia girls basketball - 2/3/2025
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