ISHPEMING — Gladstone boys basketball coach Dane Quigley was unable to attend the game here Tuesday night, but he liked what he heard on the radio.

The Braves climbed over the .500 mark by posting a 77-70 victory over the Ishpeming Hematites.

Gladstone led 41-38 at halftime and 62-47 after the third quarter of the Mid-Peninsula Conference contest.

Cam Ballard scored 20 points. Rane Castor added 17 points and Jarret St. John had 14 points and four steals for the Braves (6-5 overall, 5-3 M-PC).

“We put up a lot of points,” said Quigley, who had been battling pneumonia. “It sounded like we had trouble with turnovers in the first half. Although, we won the turnover battle, which was a big help for us. It also sounded like we did a pretty good job on defense. Seven of our guys got steals.”

Otto Swanson paced the Hematites (3-7 overall, 2-5 league) with 19 points and John Corkin hit 14.

The Braves, who also won the JV game 46-42, travel to Menominee Friday.

Gladstone 22 19 21 15 — 77

Ishpeming 15 23 9 23 — 70

Gladstone — Alworden 9, St. John 14, Berube 2, C. Ballard 20, N. Ballard 3, Lucas 3, Castor 17, Hagebusch 1, Polley 7. FT: 16-25; F: 17; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goal: C. Ballard 3, St. John 2, Alworden.

Ishpeming — Kipling 6, Ortiz 12, Swanson 19, Argall 9, Bell 5, Corkin 14. FT: 9-19; F: 19; Fouled out: Corkin; 3-point field goals: Corkin 2, Swanson.