ISHPEMING — The Gladstone Braves squeezed out a 62-61 victory over Ishpeming here Tuesday night in a Mid-Peninsula Conference boys basketball game.

It was Ishpeming’s opener.

Ishpeming took a 21-16 lead after one and a 36-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The differnce appeared to come in the third with the Braves using a 14-8 edge to pull within three entering the final frame at 44-41.

The Braves again outscored the Hematites in the fourth 21-17.

Reece Castor scored nearly half of Gladstone’s points with a season-best 35. Carson Shea added 11 points.

Junior Jacob Kugler led the Hematites with 20 points while senior forward Darius Yohe added 16 and senior guard Gavin Sundberg 15.

Gladstone visits Manistique Thursday

Gladstone 16 11 14 21 — 62

Ishpeming 21 15 8 17 — 61

Gladstone – Downey 8, Shea 11, St. John 4, Ballard 4, Castor 35. FT: 22-25.

Ishpeming – Sundberg 15, Jandreau 3, Yohe 16, Pruett 2, Smith 5, Kugler 20. FT: 10-20