Flivvers Outlast Braves In Conference Battle, 60-53

KINGSFORD---The Kingsford High School boys basketball team had four players score in double figures, leading to a 60-53 Great Northern Conference win over the Gladstone Braves Thursday night in Kingsford. The two teams are now tied in the GNC standings.

The game was a foul-filled contest, with both teams being in the double bonus midway through the second quarter, and in the bonus the entire fourth quarter. The Braves had three players foul out in the contest: Reece Castor, Casey Wolf, and Hunter Botruff.

Gladstone had an early 5-2 lead, but went ice cold for the rest of the first quarter, and trailed 15-8 after the first eight minutes. As the fouls added up, the Flivvers maintained their lead at 30-22 at halftime. Then, in the third quarter, it looked like Kingsford would run away with the game as the home team took a 39-24 lead.

But the Braves got hot from behind the arch. Joe Gibbs nailed two three-pointers, Brad Spindler and Ben Schwalbach each hit one three, keying a 13-2 run that brought the Braves to within 41-37 at the end of the third quarter.

And in the early part of the fourth quarter, Castor swished a three-pointer of his own to bring Gladstone to within 44-42.

Kingsford, however, went inside to regain control of the game. Brandon Kowalkowski had a key basket-and-one, and then banked home another shot, keying a 7-0 Kingsford run that put the game away. Kowalkowski led all scorers with 17 points. Nick Glodowski scored 14, Chris Roell added twelve, and Nick Smith chipped in with eleven points.

Gibbs led the Braves with 12 points. Spindler and Castor each added ten points.

Kingsford (4-3 overall, 2-1 GNC) had the advantage at the foul line, making 19 of 32 foul shots. Gladsone (4-3, 2-1) went to the line 18 times, making 13.

Kingsford also won the freshman game (50-43) and the junior varsity game (56-46).

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Mike Dagenais.