GLADSTONE---The Gladstone High School girls basketball team had trouble putting points on the board in the first half Tuesday night in their game against Kingsford.
The Braves had just ten points until Alexis St. Cyr made a three-pointer just before halftime to bring Gladstone to within 19-13 at the break.
The Braves had a big third quarter to take the lead, but the Flivvers had an even bigger fourth quarter to earn a 46-39 victory.
"We had an off night," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "We came out in that first quarter and I kind of got that sense that we were flat. Taking nothing away from Kingsford, because they played really well. But I thought from our side of it, I expected more energy."
Kingsford led, 13-9, after the first quarter as Courtney Qualley and Maria Wiltzius both hit three-pointers.
Then, in the second quarter, Jaelyn Jennings and Annika Erickson both made three's. Gladstone had only one point in the second quarter and fell behind, 19-10, before St. Cyr made another three to bring the Braves to within 19-13 at the half.
"We got through the half, and I thought, well, we were awful lucky to be down by only six," Dollhopf said. "Then we came out after halftime and had pretty good energy."
Indeed. Gladstone got nine points from sophomore Leigha Woellfer, including seven in a row, to take a 30-27 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Braves went into another scoring drought, and the Flivvers went on an 11-2 spurt to take a 38-32 lead.
"We didn't seem to recognize that we were ahead," Dollhopf said. "We kept playing like we were still behind. It was a struggle all night. That's a credit to Kingsford."
Erickson was the big scorer for Kingsford, nailing a three-pointer and hitting a two from in close. Erickson's two free throws with 1:27 left put the Flivvers in front, 42-34.
The Braves battled back as Tasi Martinez got a basket and a foul shot, and Ashley Edwardsen scored after a turnover with 30 seconds left in the game to close to within 42-39.
But the Braves could not get another defensive stop, and the Flivvers salted the game away at the free throw line with Qualley and Larson each making two in a row.
Kingsford was 10-of-12 at the line, while Gladstone was 10-of-17. Erickson led all scorers with 14 points and Wiltzius added 11 for the Flivvers, who improved to 13-6 and avenged an earlier loss to the Braves. Gladstone fell to 13-5 on the season,
"Our kids feel bad," Dollhopf said. "We never really got into a rythym. That happens. The fact that we didn't cave, and we battled back, I like that."
Woelffer scored ten points, and St. Cyr added nine for the Braves. Gladstone closes the regular season Thursday night with a game at Iron Mountain. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville.
The Braves had just ten points until Alexis St. Cyr made a three-pointer just before halftime to bring Gladstone to within 19-13 at the break.

"We had an off night," Gladstone Coach Karl Dollhopf said. "We came out in that first quarter and I kind of got that sense that we were flat. Taking nothing away from Kingsford, because they played really well. But I thought from our side of it, I expected more energy."
Kingsford led, 13-9, after the first quarter as Courtney Qualley and Maria Wiltzius both hit three-pointers.
Then, in the second quarter, Jaelyn Jennings and Annika Erickson both made three's. Gladstone had only one point in the second quarter and fell behind, 19-10, before St. Cyr made another three to bring the Braves to within 19-13 at the half.
"We got through the half, and I thought, well, we were awful lucky to be down by only six," Dollhopf said. "Then we came out after halftime and had pretty good energy."
Indeed. Gladstone got nine points from sophomore Leigha Woellfer, including seven in a row, to take a 30-27 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Braves went into another scoring drought, and the Flivvers went on an 11-2 spurt to take a 38-32 lead.
"We didn't seem to recognize that we were ahead," Dollhopf said. "We kept playing like we were still behind. It was a struggle all night. That's a credit to Kingsford."

The Braves battled back as Tasi Martinez got a basket and a foul shot, and Ashley Edwardsen scored after a turnover with 30 seconds left in the game to close to within 42-39.
But the Braves could not get another defensive stop, and the Flivvers salted the game away at the free throw line with Qualley and Larson each making two in a row.
Kingsford was 10-of-12 at the line, while Gladstone was 10-of-17. Erickson led all scorers with 14 points and Wiltzius added 11 for the Flivvers, who improved to 13-6 and avenged an earlier loss to the Braves. Gladstone fell to 13-5 on the season,
"Our kids feel bad," Dollhopf said. "We never really got into a rythym. That happens. The fact that we didn't cave, and we battled back, I like that."
Woelffer scored ten points, and St. Cyr added nine for the Braves. Gladstone closes the regular season Thursday night with a game at Iron Mountain. It will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville.
