Todd Rose | Daily Press Gladstone’s Claire von Ginhoven (1) shoots over Gwinn’s Lily Kerry (3) on Thursday at Gladstone.

GLADSTONE – The Gladstone Braves managed to squeeze through with a win on Thursday night by beating the Gwinn Modeltowners 33-31 in Gladstone.

At the end of the first half, the Braves held a 25-5 lead over Gwinn, but the second half would be the complete opposite story as the Modeltowners scored 26 points to get back in the running with seconds remaining. , although they would come brief.

For Gladstone (6-11) coach Andy Cretens, the victory seemed somewhat empty given the nature of the second half where the Braves were outscored 26-10.

“We talked about it in the locker room, it didn’t feel like we won tonight because we had a 25-5 lead at half-time.” said Cretens. “And allowing them to come back in a game – we had it under control, and we’re doing a lot of good things – it’s a bit frustrating.”

A 17-point quarterback from Gwinn, along with 12 of Lena Pleaugh’s who had 21 of the Modeltowners’ 31 points, put them right with the Braves with 1:08 left in the game as they trailed 32-30.

A triple from Aliana Martinez earlier in the fourth meant the Braves still had the advantage, but fair. Chloe Hanson pushed Gladstone’s advantage to three points with a free throw – something the Braves have struggled with uncharacteristically as a team going 3-11 – with 35.4 seconds left.

Pleaugh made a free throw for the Modeltowners with 8 seconds left to make it 33-31, but Gwinn’s girls couldn’t capitalize on the rebound, leaving the final score there.

For the Braves, the game is reminiscent of a Feb. 7 loss to Manistique where they stumbled late losing an eight-point lead in the final two minutes before being beaten in overtime.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about a lot recently, and we talked about it after the Manistique game, we just need more leadership,” said Cretens. “We don’t have that and we need it. We’re very senior, so we should have more leadership there, but we just don’t have that when things aren’t going well, and we run into adversity or they run a little errand, we need to have a little more direction.

“We need someone to take control and have some composure and poise there. It’s the missing piece that we don’t have. When things are going well, we can do very good things, but our mental toughness and leadership hurt us when things are not going well.

Cretens added that he hopes the team can use the experience to learn and build a little more as districts begin in just over a week.

Veronica Hall led the Brave Sin with eight points, while Jamisyn Bergeron (6), Aliana Martinez (6), Claire van Ginhoven (5), Chloe Hanson (4) and Sophia Rosa (4) also scored.

Aside from Pleaugh’s 21, Jada LaCount (6) and Jordana Hardy (4) were the other two Modeltowners girls to score.

Although they were a bit short, Gwinn’s coach Justin Maki is pleased with his team’s effort.

“We went into the locker room (at half-time), and I told them, ‘there’s a right way and a wrong way to lose, and if we’re going to lose this game, we have to do it the right way. “, Maki said. “And that gives them 100% and gives them our best basketball. Surprisingly, they came out and went strong. Once we got there at 10 we got there at 5 and slowly got back there.

“I’m proud of them. Even though we had a poor first half, I think we won tonight. But, you know, a long bus ride and sometimes you come out flat. But I’m happy with how they responded, and that’s a good lesson to learn before the districts.

Gladstone returns to the field this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at home as they host Ishpeming while Gwinn (1-15) heads to Harris to face the Bark River-Harris Broncos tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Gwin 2 3 9 17 — 31

Gladstone 9 14 6 4 — 33

Gwinn—Pleaugh 21, LaCount 6, Hardy 4; FT: 3-12; Fault: Pleaugh; 3-point goals: LaCount 2.

Gladstone — Hall 8, Bergeron 6, Martinez 6, van Ginhoven 5, Hanson 4, Rosa 4; FT: 3-11; Foul: Hall; 3-point goals: Bergeron, Martinez, van Ginhoven, Hanson.