Learning a new position can be difficult at times, especially when it’s one of the most important ones on a basketball team.

Dakota’s Brooklyn Garavaglia has made the transition from off-guard to point guard, but it wasn’t always easy.

“She’s not naturally a point guard,” said Cougars coach Olivia Savage after Dakota’s 50-34 victory against Grosse Pointe North on Tuesday in a Macomb Area Conference Red Division game. “I’m very proud of her stepping into the position and I know the team is too. She had to be uncomfortable to be comfortable. She was uncomfortable in a good way and it’s allowed her to grow.“She really wanted to step into the position and she wanted to grow into it. Now she’s become a natural point guard.”

The win was Dakota’s second in three games and moved the Cougars into a three-way tie for third place in the MAC Red.

“We really are improving,” said Garavaglia, who is the only returning starter from last year’s squad, although at a new position. “I think it’s just trusting each other. We all wanted to play for each other but we were a little unsure. I feel like we’re trusting each other now and really believing it.”

Savage, who is in her first season as head coach, is pleased with the way her team has battled through the tough times, including a seven-game losing streak.

“I’m just proud of their growth,” she said. “Obviously, the win-loss column isn’t what we hoped it would be but they could have easily thrown in the towel and given up — but they haven’t. They’re eager to come to practice and get better. They’ve really stuck together. I have girls who want to work hard and be successful and they’re putting in the work to be successful. That’s what makes me proud as a coach.”

A strong finish this season could be something to build on because the Cougars’ five starters are juniors.

“I’m really excited,” Garavaglia said. “Next year we should have a really good team.”

Savage agrees.

“These girls are playing together for the first time as a core,” she said. “With all the juniors coming back they’ll have a year under their belt together so hopefully they can take another step in their development.”

Dakota used a 10-0 run that started late in the first quarter with the score tied at 6-6 and put the Cougars ahead to stay. Five different players scored during the spurt and turnovers led to transition baskets.

Garavaglia led Dakota with 15 points and also had five steals and three assists. Meadow Cameron had a strong all-around performance with 11 points, eight steals, six rebounds and four blocks. MaKayla Reed had nine points and a team-high nine rebounds. Allie Ruggirello, one of three seniors on the Dakota team, had 10 points.

North, which starts two freshmen and two sophomores, struggled on offense. An eight-person squad makes it difficult to implement the things that have made the Norsemen a power in the MAC Red for many years.

“The toughest part is we can’t practice 5-on-5,” said coach Gary Bennett, who picked up his 700th coaching victory earlier this season. “We’re not comfortable with the ball and it all stems from not being able to address those things in practice.”

Some of North’s returning players have more responsibilities this season and they’re adjusting to the new roles.

“This was our worst game of the year,” Bennett said. “I thought we played hard. We caused some problems on defense but then we couldn’t convert.”

Junior Eva Borowski led North with 13 points. Freshmen Aaliyah Brown and Emma Barr finished with seven and six points, respectively.