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But, for a basketball team, it can be devastating to the players' morale. Which was the situation facing Elk Rapids in last Friday night's Lake Michigan Conference girls basketball game against Traverse City St. Francis.

The Elks didn't score in the first quarter, and trailed the Gladiators, 9-0. Rather than pout about it, the Elks regrouped and came back to defeat the Gladiators, 54-47, for their first win of the season. And their first win in the Lake Michigan Conference following a loss at Kalkaska.

"It was an ugly start," Elks coach Rick Sayer allowed later. "We couldn't get warmed up, and went into the second quarter without a point."

Seeing those zeroes on the scoreboard next to "home" was obviously an unpleasant experience for the Elks. Especially playing in front of their home crowd.

Filled with a resolve to prove that they were a better team than what the first quarter might have indicated, the Elks picked it up in the second quarter.

Gradually shifting into high gear on offense, the Elks outscored the Gladiators, 14-10, and trailed at the half by five, 19-14.

But the Gladiators outscored the Elks, 10-9, in the third period and extended their lead to six points, 29-23, heading into the fourth.

"We pounded it inside to the post in the fourth quarter," Sayer said. That inside game enabled the Elks to gain a 22-16 advantage in the fourth period and tie the game at the end of regulation, 45-45.

Elk Rapids had a three-point lead with three seconds left in the fourth when the Gladiators tied with a 3-pointer. The Elks had fouled the girl on the shot, but she missed the free throw.

A 9-2 advantage in the overtime lifted the Elks (1-3, 1-1) to the win. Kacey Anderson had a big game with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. She was 15-of-20 from the free throw line.

Jenna Hubbell added 8 points and 6 rebounds. Jocelyn Fox finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Olivia Morrison scored 7 points. Franki Price contributed 4 points and 6 rebounds, while Lexi Small added a free throw.

St. Francis was led by Lyndsay Lacourse with 15 points, and Abby Clear contributed 12.

"The girls now know what it takes, and they have a taste of victory," Sayer said. "We are looking forward to this week (Harbor Springs on Tuesday and Grayling on Thursday).

"Both should be good games, and our girls are excited to turn up the defense and have a great first quarter for the first time this year."

Coach Dan Marquardt's junior varsity team dropped a 45-31 decision to the Glads. The Elks were led by Mikaela Sanford with 6 points and 4 rebounds. Jessie Spoor and Jenna Blanchfield added 6 points apiece.

Sanford also had 4 steals and 3 assists, Chelsea Peters added 3 steals and Courtney Isenhart dished out 3 assists.