St. Ignace Slips Past Mistake-Prone Gladstone 59-52

GLADSTONE---Dale Hongisto didn't mix words after his Braves basketball team lost to the St. Ignace Saints, 59-52, Wednesday night in Gladstone. The Braves head coach pointed his finger at one factor that he feels led to his team's loss to the Saints.

Jared Hunter goes for a lay-up Wednesday.

"Yeah, 24 turnovers," Hongisto said. "We just handed it to them. We handed it to them in the fourth quarter and said 'here you go'. I'm generally positive, and I'm gonna remain positive. I'm just bummed out."

He's not the only one. Every Gladstone player had the feeling that this was one that got away.

And it didn't have to be that way, because the game was an entertaining one.

Both teams got up and down the court all night long, with a fast tempo that led to several periods where both teams missed multiple shots, and, yes, committed multiple turnovers.

"Give them credit. They work hard," Hongisto said of the Saints. "Some of those turnovers were the result of St. Ignace working hard. That's why they're kids, I guess. They drive you nuts but you love them anyway."

Dave Dykowski scores to end the first quarter

St. Ignace jumped to a 6-0 lead before Tyler Wells and Andy Olesak knocked down three-pointers.

David Dykowski took a shovel pass from Jalen Stenson and scored at the first quarter buzzer, putting the Braves in the lead, 17-14.

But that lead didn't last long for Gladstone.

Jared Hunter (20) and Tyler Wells (12) double team St. Ignace's Gage Kreski (34)

The Saints went on an 8-0 run, partially because of poor box-outs on rebound opportunities, and it was a 22-17 game.

But Jared Hunter knocked down a three and Dykowski scored an "old-fashioned" three-point play, and it was 27-27 at halftime.

Fifteen of the Braves' 24 turnovers came in that first half. The game was close throughout the second half, but in the final five minutes, the Braves had several empty possessions that spelled defeat.

Gladstone closed to within 53-51 on a Jalen Stenson basket with 1:55 left, but the Saints closed the game at the free throw line.

Sophomore Gage Kreski led the Saints (10-7) with 21 points, with 12 of those coming in the third quarter. Brandon Oja added 13 points, including three fourth quarter baskets on the baseline. Tyler Snyder contributed 13 points, including three triples.

Saints' Gage Kreski scores on the leaner

It was a homecoming for Saints Coach Doug Ingalls, who starred for the Braves basketball program in the 1980's before playing at Northern Michigan University.

"It's nice to be back," Ingalls said. "I was hoping to go downtown to the old school gym (now the Gladstone Middle School). I know where the board-shots are perfect. I know the pieces on the floor that are beautiful. I can't miss a shot in certain spots!"

Gladstone's Jalen Stenson (10) holds the ball away from Saints' Tyler Snyder (33)

And then, Ingalls added, with a grin: "I do have my purple underwear on tonight."

Gladstone got 16 points from Wells and 13 points from Dykowski.

"We didn't lose for lack of effort, that's for sure," Hongisto said. "It was decision-making, when it comes down to it. It's in the past, and now it's time to move on."

Gladstone (7-10) will travel to Escanaba to face the Eskymos, who are 14-4 after beating Gwinn Tuesday and Manistique on Wednesday.

Friday's game starts at 7:30. It will be broadcast live on WGKL-FM (105.5), WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos taken by Lori Jurek, more videos taken by Mike Dagenais and Nate Bellville, and to listen to radio replays and interviews.

Gladstone's Justin Jurek (32) dribbles against St. Ignace's Jeremiah Anderson (12) on Wednesday night.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/12	7:30 PM	at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	55 - 56 (L)	0-1

12/17	7:20 PM	at Marquette Redmen	33 - 60 (L)	0-2

12/20	7:15 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	44 - 67 (L)	0-3

12/23	7:30 PM	at Mid Peninsula Wolverines	71 - 44 (W)	1-3

12/30	5:30 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	44 - 68 (L)	1-4

1/2	7:30 PM	Mid Peninsula Wolverines	56 - 48 (W)	2-4

1/9	8:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	61 - 52 (W)	3-4

1/14	7:30 PM	at Gwinn Model Towners	49 - 47 (W)	4-4

1/17	7:30 PM	Menominee Maroons	52 - 54 (L)	4-5

1/21	7:30 PM	at Ishpeming Hematites	47 - 57 (L)	4-6

1/24	7:30 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	PPD - PPD (T)	PPD

1/29	7:00 PM	Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	56 - 41 (W)	5-6

2/4	7:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	39 - 70 (L)	5-7

2/7	7:15 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	36 - 51 (L)	5-8

2/11	7:30 PM	at Negaunee Miners	57 - 71 (L)	5-9

2/14	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	52 - 47 (W)	6-9

2/17	7:15 PM	Westwood Patriots	63 - 44 (W)	7-9

2/19	6:30 PM	St. Ignace Saints	52 - 59 (L)	7-10

2/21	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	52 - 58 (L)	7-11

2/25	7:30 PM	Manistique Emeralds	60 - 41 (W)	8-11

3/5	7:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	48 - 60 (L)	8-12