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Cage Stunner

Braves get Marooned again

Avery Bundgaard | Daily Press Gladstone’s Joe Gibbs (12) pulls up for a jump shot over Menominee’s Kyle Anderson (40) and Levi Kempka (34) Friday night at Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — The Menominee boys basketball team handed fourth ranked Gladstone its second consecutive loss Friday night 62-49.

The Maroons started strong and never looked back. Despite a third quarter run by the Braves, Menominee’s lead was never threatened in this Great Northern Conference matchup.

“This is the best game we played all year both offensively and defensively,” said Menominee coach Pete Pericolosi. “I thought defensively we were really good for sure.”

Gladstone coach Clayton Castor was not too pleased the way his team played, especially on the heels of a 75-71 overtime loss to Negaunee Tuesday.

“I thought we played soft,” said Castor. “Right from the beginning of the game we didn’t execute anything that resembled our game plan.”

Scoring for the Maroons started even before the game started. Gladstone was assessed a technical foul for not having its starting lineup in the book 10 minutes before the game started.

Senior Hunter Hass hit both free throws to give Menominee the early lead. Hass scored 11 of the Maroons’ first 14 points as they finished out the fist quarter leading 25-12.

The game was stagnant in the second quarter as Menominee held onto a 35-24 lead heading into halftime.

The Maroons shot 15-29 for 52 percent in the first half.

“We shot the ball real well in the first half,” said Pericolosi. “It’s important to get that early lead because it’s easier playing ahead than it is from behind.”

The Braves came out strong in the third quarter with an 11-2 run to pull within two. Menominee recovered as it went on a 9-2 run to push the lead to 46-37 heading into the final quarter.

“We went on a run in that third quarter because our defense really drove our offense,” said Castor. “And then we had a couple breakdowns. They really exposed our weaknesses in those few minutes when they went on their run.”

The Maroons pushed their lead to 14, which forced Gladstone to foul to try and stay in the game.

Menominee went 10-for-16 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Senior Marcus McKenney led Menominee with 21 points. Hass and senior Levi Kempka each added 16 for the Maroons.

“I thought Hunter Hass had a good game defensively,” said Pericolosi. “It was a good team defense. We gave up 49 points to a team who runs and scores in the 70s. That’s pretty good.”

Sophomore Reece Castor led Gladstone with 20 points while junior Brad Spindler added 19 for the Braves, who fell 63-61 to Menominee earlier this season.

Gladstone travels to Westwood Monday.

Menominee 25 10 11 16 — 62

Gladstone 12 12 13 12 — 49

Menominee — Antilla 1, McKenney 21, Hass 16, Mathias 8, Kempka 16; FT: 13-20; F: 11; Fouled out: none; 3-point field goals: Hass 1, Kempka 2.

Gladstone — Gibbs 6, Stephenson 4, Spindler 19, Castor 20; FT: 9-12; F: 19; Fouled out: Stephenson; 3-point field goals: Spindler 2, Castor 2.

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