Courtesy photo by Scott Balenger Gladstone’s Ahna Larson (center) soars in for a shot during Thursday’s game at Iron Mountain.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Gladstone girls’ basketball team jumped out to a 20-0 lead after the first quarter and didn’t look back in a 59-17 win at Iron Mountain here Thursday in a Mid-Peninsula Conference contest.

“We were able to get some ball pressure at half-court,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens said. “We did a great job jumping in the passing lanes to get some in transition.”

The Braves (2-2, 1-1 M-PC) allowed 11 points to the Mountaineers in the second quarter before they clamped back down in the second half, allowing just six.

“Our guard play has been pretty outstanding lately,” Cretens said. “Even in a game like this, you see some things you have to work on. We’re looking ahead to Escanaba, and you just have to continue working on those weaknesses.”

Maddie Ahlgren and Taelor Zeise led the Braves with 13 points apiece.

The Mountaineers were led by Claire Mongrain with seven points.

“What’s been awesome for me is how coachable these girls are,” Cretens said. “They’ve been unbelievably coachable, and they’ve improved leaps and bounds. They’ve also really bought in (to our system). That’s the reason we’ve made such big strides this season.”

Gladstone visits Escanaba Dec. 27.

Gladstone 20 14 12 13 — 59

Iron Mountain 0 11 2 4 — 17

Gladstone — Ahlgren 13, Taelor Zeise 13, Torie Zeise 8, Larson 7, Crow 6, Balenger 6, Trudeau 4, Hanson 2. FT: 7-10; F: 10; Fouled out: None. 3-point field goals: Torie Zeise 1, Taelor Zeise 1.

Iron Mountain — Mongrain 7, Ellis 3, Runsat 2, Powell 2, Lundholm 2, Sorenson 1. FT: 3-4; F: 8; Fouled out: None. 3-point field goals: Mongrain 1, Ellis 1.