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Gladstone Girls Use Tough Defense To Top Flivvers
 KINGSFORD---The Gladstone Braves seem to be playing their best basketball at the most important time of the season. With the start of the district tournaments less than one week away, the Braves have run off a six-game winning streak, including Tuesday night's 49-39 win over the Kingsford Flivvers in Kingsford. 
Gladstone's Bridget Becker (30) drives on Kingsford's Jaelyn Jennings (12).
"I thought we were careless with the ball a couple of times, but our defense in the first half was really good," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "We talk a lot about creating some separation (on the scoreboard). On offense, we got out of rhythm a couple of times and gave the ball right back to them." Dollhopf was not happy with the final two minutes of the second quarter. "We had a 14-point lead and they go on a 5-0 run based on our turnovers," he said. "We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. But our defense was solid."  
Callie Jensen second quarter basket
But Jess Beaudry scored five points and Callie Jensen drained a three pointer to help the Braves go back in front, 38-28, entering the fourth quarter. In that fourth quarter, the Flivvers went to a full-court press defense, and the Braves had problems with it. Had Kingsford not missed several easy shots from in close, Gladstone's lead would have been cut dramatically. 
Jess Beaudry (left) scores on a jump shot.
"We talked to the girls about that," Dollhopf said. "When you get that 12, 14-point lead, it's hard to play sometimes, because you don't know if you're gonna try to score, or are you gonna try to stall. I chose to bringing the ball out because of the fact that they had five fouls, and I wanted to get them into the bonus. It worked out." Bridget Becker made four straight free throws in the final minute to ice the game. She led the Braves with 14 points. Beaudry added 11 and Jensen contributed ten points. Gladstone improved to 13-6 overall, 5-3 in the Great Northern Conference. The Braves will finish second in the GNC if Menominee loses to both Escanaba and Marquette later this week. If the Maroons split, then the Braves would end up tied for second. Kingsford fell to 8-10 overall, 2-6 in the GNC. 
Beaudry steal; Becker makes it 25-14
That game will be the district tournament opener. It starts Monday at 7:00 E.T. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Before that, the Braves have one final regular season game, this Thursday night at home against Iron Mountain. That game will not be on the radio. Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos taken by Justin Jurek and Jake Peterson. Thanks, guys! Also, listen to radio replays from the game, and post-game interviews. 
Braves senior guard Callie Jensen makes a three-pointer during Tuesday night's game in Kingsford.
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| Date | Time | Opponent | Score | Record |
12/3 |
7:30 PM |
Negaunee Miners
|
43 - 30 (W)
|
1-0
|
12/6 |
7:30 PM |
at Gwinn Model Towners
|
56 - 41 (W)
|
2-0
|
12/10 |
7:30 PM |
at Marquette Redmen
|
35 - 46 (L)
|
2-1
|
12/12 |
7:00 PM |
Ishpeming Hematites
|
35 - 50 (L)
|
2-2
|
12/17 |
7:15 PM |
Kingsford Flivvers
|
59 - 51 (W)
|
3-2
|
12/19 |
7:15 PM |
Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
67 - 24 (W)
|
4-2
|
12/28 |
3:00 PM |
at Houghton Gremlins
|
58 - 66 (L)
|
4-3
|
1/3 |
7:15 PM |
Escanaba Eskymos
|
51 - 42 (W)
|
5-3
|
1/10 |
7:30 PM |
Manistique Emeralds
|
72 - 25 (W)
|
6-3
|
1/14 |
7:15 PM |
Marquette Redmen
|
37 - 52 (L)
|
6-4
|
1/21 |
7:30 PM |
Menominee Maroons
|
43 - 50 (L)
|
6-5
|
1/23 |
7:30 PM |
at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears
|
75 - 26 (W)
|
7-5
|
2/4 |
7:30 PM |
at Ishpeming Hematites
|
36 - 51 (L)
|
7-6
|
2/6 |
7:30 PM |
at Westwood Patriots
|
71 - 38 (W)
|
8-6
|
2/8 |
3:00 PM |
at Menominee Maroons
|
45 - 37 (W)
|
9-6
|
2/10 |
7:30 PM |
at Escanaba Eskymos
|
67 - 59 (W)
|
10-6
|
2/12 |
7:30 PM |
at Negaunee Miners
|
51 - 22 (W)
|
11-6
|
2/15 |
3:00 PM |
Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils
|
58 - 47 (W)
|
12-6
|
2/18 |
8:00 PM |
at Kingsford Flivvers
|
49 - 39 (W)
|
13-6
|
2/22 |
2:00 PM |
Iron Mountain Mountaineers
|
43 - 30 (W)
|
14-6
|
2/24 |
7:00 PM |
at Kingsford Flivvers
|
53 - 43 (W)
|
15-6
|
2/26 |
7:00 PM |
at Menominee Maroons
|
45 - 55 (L)
|
15-7
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