KINGSFORD---The old cliche is that it is hard to beat a team three times in the same season, and the Kingsford High School girls basketball team proved that the cliche is a true one as the Flivvers battled the Gladstone Braves Monday night in Kingsford.
The Flivvers scratched and clawed their way through 32 minutes of basketball, but in the end, the Braves had just enough to post a 53-43 district tournament victory.
Gladstone led the game from start to finish, but Kingsford battled hard and stayed close throughout the evening.
But in the end, it was Gladstone's excellent free throw shooting and strong defensive presence that led the Braves into the next round of the playoffs.
"We're a pretty aggressive team, I think, getting to the hole," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "And the difference for us is that we are, in the second half of the season, cashing in on our free throws. But Kingsford came out and they just battled. I knew they would."
Gladstone built a 30-18 lead late in the second quarter after co-captain Callie Jensen drained a three-pointer. But co-captain Jess Beaudry was given an offensive foul that put her on the bench with three fouls. Kingsford took advantage as Courtney Qualley nailed two big three's, including one from NBA land at the halftime buzzer to make it 32-27.
"Qualley came to play," Dollhopf said. "We expected that. It was just a battle. We played about four minutes without Jess. We're coming in cold off the bench and I'm asking players to come in and make up for her, and then they threw a little pressure at us and it bothered us a little bit."
"So, we go into halftime, instead of being up ten, we're up five."
In the second half, Gladstone allowed just 16 points.
"I just thought we did a good job in the second half of regaining our composure and re-establishing ourselves," Dollhopf said. "We had ten turnovers in the first half and we talked about that. We only had four in the second half."
Still, Kingsford (8-12) was able to keep the game close, closing to within 44-41 with four minutes left in the game.
But the Braves got a huge hoop from Beaudry, and Bridget Becker and Lexi Hongisto each drained a pair of free throws, to put it away.
Gladstone made nine out of ten from the line down the stretch, with Becker and Hongisto each going 4-for-4. The Braves were 14-for-20 from the line. Kingsford was 5 for 11.
Becker led the Braves in scoring with 15 points, while Hongisto and Tinner Sharon each added nine points. Jensen ande Beaudry each contributed eight points.
Qualley scored 17 points and Amber Larson added nine for the Flivvers.
Gladstone (15-6) travels to Menominee (12-6) for the Class B District Semifinals Wednesday night. The teams each won on the other's home court this season.
"We've been on that court, year-after-year," Dollhopf said. "We like our chances. We're gonna bring it. They start mostly seniors, so they'll have a sense of urgency. Our goal is to get to a district championship game at Gladstone, against whoever."
Escanaba travels to Houghton for Wednesday's other semifinal. The winner of that game will visit either Gladstone or Menominee on Friday night for a trip downstate.
Wednesday night's Gladstone-Menominee game starts at 7:00 ET, and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Justin Jurek, videos taken by Mike Dagenais, and listen to audio.
The Flivvers scratched and clawed their way through 32 minutes of basketball, but in the end, the Braves had just enough to post a 53-43 district tournament victory.
Callie Jensen (24) is guarded by Kingsford's Hannah Tresedder (22).
But in the end, it was Gladstone's excellent free throw shooting and strong defensive presence that led the Braves into the next round of the playoffs.
"We're a pretty aggressive team, I think, getting to the hole," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "And the difference for us is that we are, in the second half of the season, cashing in on our free throws. But Kingsford came out and they just battled. I knew they would."
Gladstone built a 30-18 lead late in the second quarter after co-captain Callie Jensen drained a three-pointer. But co-captain Jess Beaudry was given an offensive foul that put her on the bench with three fouls. Kingsford took advantage as Courtney Qualley nailed two big three's, including one from NBA land at the halftime buzzer to make it 32-27.
Kingsford's Courtney Qualley buzzer-beating three
"So, we go into halftime, instead of being up ten, we're up five."
In the second half, Gladstone allowed just 16 points.
Alexis St. Cyr controls the Braves offense
Still, Kingsford (8-12) was able to keep the game close, closing to within 44-41 with four minutes left in the game.
But the Braves got a huge hoop from Beaudry, and Bridget Becker and Lexi Hongisto each drained a pair of free throws, to put it away.
Gladstone made nine out of ten from the line down the stretch, with Becker and Hongisto each going 4-for-4. The Braves were 14-for-20 from the line. Kingsford was 5 for 11.
Becker led the Braves in scoring with 15 points, while Hongisto and Tinner Sharon each added nine points. Jensen ande Beaudry each contributed eight points.
Qualley scored 17 points and Amber Larson added nine for the Flivvers.
Bridget Becker scores off pass from Jess Beaudry
"We've been on that court, year-after-year," Dollhopf said. "We like our chances. We're gonna bring it. They start mostly seniors, so they'll have a sense of urgency. Our goal is to get to a district championship game at Gladstone, against whoever."
Escanaba travels to Houghton for Wednesday's other semifinal. The winner of that game will visit either Gladstone or Menominee on Friday night for a trip downstate.
Wednesday night's Gladstone-Menominee game starts at 7:00 ET, and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Justin Jurek, videos taken by Mike Dagenais, and listen to audio.
Tinner Sharon (25) goes up for a shot as Kingsford's Courtney Qualley (42) defends. (Justin Jurek photo)
