Braves Slip Past Model Towners In Home Opener

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GLADSTONE---The Gladstone Braves girls basketball team won two straight regional championships largely on its defensive play. The full court press and half-court trap routinely caused numerous turnovers that led to points on the scoreboard.

Well, this 2012-13 version of the Braves is following the same script, albeit with none of the cast members from those successful Gladstone teams. This new, young Braves team used defense in crunch time Friday night to beat Gwinn, 43-37, in Gladstone.

"It wasn't pretty, but you had two teams out there that were just battling," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "Just trying to get into a rhythm. It's early in the year, so we'll take the win.

"Our goal is to keep getting better every game. We're still developing."

The Model Towners hit four three-point baskets in the second half (two of them by Ellie Olsen), and took a 32-31 lead with just under six minutes left in the game on a coast-to-coast driving layup by Jordyn Hutchens.

But from there, the Gladstone defense clamped down, led by its only senior, Alison Austin, and by sophomore Lexi Hongisto.

"They really stood out defensively tonight," Dollhopf said. "Alison is our only senior and she's trying to get into some kind of groove. But you could see where her instincts just took over in that last quarter. She made some big plays defensively. She was where she had to be, and took care of the ball. And Lexi did an outstanding job."

And offensively, the Braves attacked the basket after falling behind. Hongisto scored on a lay-up after a sweet spin move to put Gladstone back in front, and then moments later, Austin scored on a driving lay-up to restore a five-point Braves lead.

"We talked about that in practice. How are you gonna respond when things aren't going your way," Dollhopf said. "We're trying to get people to recognize that, hey, when is that sense of urgency going to kick in? Hopefully, it'll be a different person each night."

Early in the game, Gladstone took a 15-6 lead as sophomore Alexis St. Cyr scored eleven points in the first quarter. Six of those points came on three-pointers.

"Coach just told me to keep shooting, so I did," St. Cyr said.

St. Cyr fouled out midway through the fourth quarter after missing a couple of shots and then committing fouls trying to get the ball back.

"They were just frustration fouls, because I wasn't finishing (shots) properly," St. Cyr said. "It's a good learning experience."

Gladstone was in foul trouble throughout the first half, but the Braves managed to hold on to a 25-18 lead at the half. Gladstone also led, 31-27, after three quarters.

"We were lucky to survive that first half with the lead," Dollhopf said. "Fifteen fouls."

But overall, Dollhopf liked what he saw out of his very young Braves team.

Gladstone (1-1) hosts Marquette next Tuesday night in its first Great Northern Conference game of the season. Game time is 7:15. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the "ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS" box at the top of this page to see video highlights and photos from Friday night's game.

Thanks to Mike Dagenais and Eric Thompson for the help!

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

11/27	7:45 PM	at Negaunee Miners	45 - 56 (L)	0-1

11/30	7:15 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	43 - 37 (W)	1-1

12/4	7:15 PM	Marquette Redmen	37 - 45 (L)	1-2

12/6	7:15 PM	at Ishpeming Hematites	45 - 35 (W)	2-2

12/11	8:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	44 - 51 (L)	2-3

12/18	7:15 PM	at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	78 - 29 (W)	3-3

12/27	3:00 PM	Houghton Gremlins	50 - 52 (L)	3-4

1/4	7:15 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	35 - 33 (W)	4-4

1/11	7:30 PM	at Manistique Emeralds	52 - 33 (W)	5-4

1/15	7:20 PM	at Marquette Redmen	31 - 66 (L)	5-5

1/24	7:15 PM	Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	56 - 19 (W)	6-5

1/31	7:15 PM	Menominee Maroons	49 - 39 (W)	7-5

2/5	7:15 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	44 - 48 (L)	7-6

2/7	7:15 PM	Westwood Patriots	51 - 22 (W)	8-6

2/9	3:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	49 - 47 (W)	9-6

2/12	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	46 - 47 (L)	9-7

2/13	7:15 PM	Negaunee Miners	49 - 53 (L)	9-8

2/16	2:30 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	47 - 39 (W)	10-8

2/20	7:30 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	51 - 58 (L)	10-9

2/21	6:45 PM	at Iron Mountain Mountaineers	41 - 51 (L)	10-10

2/25	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	46 - 47 (L)	10-11

2012-13 Upper Peninsula Girls Basketball Playoffs

Saturday March 16, 2013

Gladstone Loses Heartbreaker In District Semifinal

Monday February 25, 2013

Big Second Half Sends Kingsford Girls Past Braves

Wednesday February 20, 2013

Beaudry Scores 21 But Braves Lose To Negaunee

Wednesday February 13, 2013

Gladstone Uses Defense To Turn Back Menominee

Friday February 1, 2013

Gladstone On Cruise Control Against Big Bay deNoc

Thursday January 24, 2013

Houghton Rallies Past Gladstone On Buzzer-Beater

Friday December 28, 2012

Marquette Girls Make Late Push To Top Gladstone

Tuesday December 4, 2012