ARMADA — Every basket came with a bruise. Every loose ball came with a bump. This BWAC matchup quickly became a battle. Armada survived against Almont, 45-36, Friday night at home. Claire Sniesak finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals for the Tigers, who improved to 3-3. The Raiders fell to 1-5 and were led by Grace Johnson’s 11 points. “We controlled the tempo and we made some free throws (in the final minutes),” Armada coach John Baerwolf said. “We didn’t have great free-throw shooting tonight, but we made enough to make a difference in the end. So that was big for us.” Sniesak’s play was also big for the Tigers, who snapped a three-game losing streak. The freshman showed poise in a game that was physical from the start. “We just see the floor well,” Sniesak said. “I think reversing the ball and making those cuts — we all see each other well on the cuts — helped me get a few buckets.” Two of her more crucial baskets came in the final 20 seconds of the first half. Teammate Meya Drob (nine points) had just put Armada in front, 22-21, on a pair of free throws. It was the eighth (and final) lead change of the night. As the Raiders attempted to inbound the ball, Sniesak stole it underneath their own basket and scored on a layup

Then she stole the next inbounds pass, added another layup and drew a shooting foul. Sniesak made the subsequent free throw to close the half on a 5-0 run. “I think as a team we stop the ball well,” Sniesak said. “Then we find the second girl that they want to pass to so that they can’t get in transition.” The Tigers stifled Almont for much of the fourth quarter and outscored the Raiders, 12-6, in the period. Five of Armada’s points came at the foul line. Still, the Raiders had one more surge left in them. After a made free throw from Emma Cleland (five points) gave Armada a 37-32 lead, Almont used a 4-0 run to stay within striking distance. Katie Hettinger (six points) scored on a driving layup while Lizzy Brandt (three points) and Brandi Zimmer each added a free throw. Drob ended the run with a floater to give Armada some breathing room. The Raiders couldn’t answer on the other end and intentionally fouled Ashlyn Upton (eight points) to get the ball back. She sank both free throws. Almont fouled her again after she secured a defensive rebound. Upton clinched the victory with two more foul shots. “Tonight is just another step for us,” Baerwolf said. “Just like every team says, ‘Try to get better the next time out.’ And tonight we got a little better.” The Tigers will visit Warren Woods Tower at 7 p.m. Monday. The Raiders are off until they host Croswell-Lexington on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. Tipoff is for that game is 7 p.m.