Gladstone Offense Clicks In Victory Over Ishpeming

GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School girls basketball team turned in its best offensive performance of the young season Thursday night, turning back the Ishpeming Hematities, 57-48, at the Gladstone High School Gym.

The Braves shot the ball well in the first quarter, as all five starters scored. Gladstone led, 13-9, after the first eight minutes, and built a 27-18 lead in the second quarter when Leah Woelffer scored eight straight points.

The Braves, however, committed three straight turnovers and Ishpeming took advantage, closing to within 30-26 at halftime.

Gladstone was able to keep Ishpeming at arm's length throughout the second half, although the Braves were never quite able to put the Hematites away.

"We had a lot of players who kind of picked their moments early on," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "I thought Alyssa Polley did a great job out of the gates and got us some baskets, off to a quick start. Taylor Hunter sat with four fouls and comes in and gets eight quick ones. In order for us to have success, I think that's going to be the formula right there....balance."

Alyssa Polley scores off Hardwick pass

The closest Ishpeming got was at 45-41 before Taylor Hunter attacked the basket and scored the hoop, also drawing a foul for an "old-fashioned" three-point play.

That made it 48-41 with 4:20 remaining. The Hematites had several empty trips up the court, rushing several shots from long range. Gladstone eventually built a double-digit lead and cruised over the final few minutes.

"I told the girls at halftime that they'd make some runs at us," Dollhopf said. "We made some plays. We didn't hang our heads. We moved on to the next play. I like how resilient we are. We're kind of learning on the run, too. We're a yoing team."

Woelffer, who had 27 points in Gladstone's loss to Marquette on Tuesday, was again the team's leading scorer on Thursday, scoring 21 points. But she had plenty of help from her teammates.

"I think everyone really contributed to the game," Woelffer said. "We worked together really well. I think we just passed the ball well and everyone's shots were falling today, so that was pretty cool."

Hunter scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter before fouling out.

Tasi Martinez had a strong game, despite having to sit with foul trouble in the second half. She ended up scoring 11 points. Alyssa Polley and Caitlyn Leisner scored six and three points, respectively, but both contributed well by dishing the ball to other girls.

"We have struggled to score, and that's no secret," Dollhopf said. "I've been really pleased with our defense. I knew that, offensively, it's going to come. You just have to keep working at it. Hats off to the girls."

Gladstone's Taylor Hunter attacks the basket.

Ishpeming was led by Marissa Maino, who scored her team's first six points early on and ended up with 17 points. Khora Swanson contribued 14 points, including two three-point baskets. And Madison Johns had 13 points (ten of them in the second quarter).

Thr junior varsity game went down to the wire, with Ishpeming pulling it out, 45-44. The Braves took the lead with 1:29 left on a basket and foul shot by Amber Lenards, but the Hematites won the game on free throws by Madison Pruett with 4.3 seconds left.

Gladstone (2-2) hosts Kingsford next Tuesday night.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville, and to hear post-game interviews with Woelffer and Braves Coach Karl Dollhopf.