BGM's Sadie Klein, right, dribbles the ball in a game against HLV-TC Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

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VICTOR — When they needed a basket the most, Ellie English delivered for BGM.

After a 10-point lead dissipated, English sank a three-pointer with 4:30 remaining to give the Bears the cushion it needed in a 48-39 girls basketball win over HLV-TC Friday.

“We always look to swing the ball, and we did a good job of that on that possession and late in the fourth,” English said of the shot.

BGM's Ellie English shoots a three in a game against HLV-TC Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

Three-point shooting off their ball movement was big for BGM the entire game. The Bears sank nine threes in the game, five of them from English en route to her game-high 21 points.

“It’s one of our strong suits,” English said of the team’s shooting. “We like to shoot around the perimeter in every game, and we work on it a lot in practice.”

BGM led 16-5 late in the first after some tight man-to-man defense on the Warriors. HLV-TC closed the quarter with a few good looks, highlighted by an Erilea Kupka three to make the score 16-10.

HLV-TC's Bryndal Jack (23) goes up for a shot in a game against BGM Friday, Jan. 16 in Victor. (Ben Lamparek/Hometown Current)

The Bears built the lead to 10 — 30-20 — at the break.

As in the first, the Warriors closed on a 5-0 spurt in the third quarter to cut the lead to five after an Emery Hall drive and another Kupka three.

HLV-TC cut the deficit to two, at 40-38, with 5:20 remaining in the fourth after two free throws from Hall.

The English three followed and began the 8-1 run BGM closed on for the win.

“We just had to keep our heads up even as they were making a run,” English said.

In 12 games, the BGM sophomore has nearly doubled her scoring average from a season ago and already has more threes (31) than all of last season.

“All Glory to God on that,” English said on her increased production. “I’ve been praying a lot knowing I was capable of this last season, but I’ve grown in my confidence this season through God and my teammates.”