Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Gladstone’s Rane Castor (40) shoots a layup through Manistique defender Nathan Dechow (bottom left) Monday in Gladstone. Looking on for the Braves is Cam Ballard (30).

GLADSTONE — With almost no contact practices under their belt, the Gladstone and Manistique boys faced off in the season opener — and the first basketball they’ve played since the stoppage at the end of last season.

It was at times sloppy, and there was even a puke stoppage, but the joy of being back on the court was undeniable.

After a few minutes of recalibration, the Braves jumped ahead of the Emeralds and didn’t look back, earning a 78-47 win Monday in Gladstone.

“I think our problem at the start was that we haven’t been able to guard anyone but a chair in two weeks of practice that we’ve been having, so this was our first time having to actually guard someone,” Braves coach Mike Cretens said. “Players move, chairs don’t. We weren’t ready. Our legs weren’t ready to move laterally and guard someone who isn’t a chair.”

The Emeralds were the first on the board in the first quarter, with Sammy Warren turning a layup into a three-point play after a successful free throw a minute and 20 seconds in.

Over a minute and a half later, Gladstone earned its first points as Cam Ballard sank two charity shots. Shortly after, the Braves’ Rane Castor laid one in to take a 4-3 lead with 4:20 remaining.

Warren then demonstrated one of the Emeralds’ recurring strengths and dropped a triple in from the corner to make it 6-4.

“We’re definitely an outside team,” Emeralds coach Cody Kangas said. “We can shoot the ball. When I went to the 1-3-1, you could kind of see that. As far as driving to the basket, they’re (Gladstone) just so much more physical than us. When we drive to the basket, it’s kind of nonchalant, and they beat us to the point of attack. We need to work on that — trying to get to the basket a little harder, a little bit quicker.”

Nearly a minute later, the Braves moved back ahead thanks to Ballard sinking a jumper from the top of the key and a breakaway layup from Lucas Hughes.

Shortly after, Hughes found himself at the charity stripe and sank both to put the Braves ahead 10-6 and give them the momentum needed to stay ahead for the rest of the game.

Castor added seven points in the last two minutes of the first to make it 17-7 as the quarter ended.

The Emeralds had difficulty matching up against Gladstone’s bigs and found most of their success from the outside.

“We definitely had a size advantage today,” Cretens said. “With the returning (players we have), we have a lot of physicality, and I expect more physicality than most teams we play this year — at least I hope so. That’s what we’re going to live on. We’re going to live on the defensive end and beating people up.”

Consequently, the Braves went on a 12-point run in the middle of the second to stretch their lead to 36-12 and seal the game.

“It wasn’t bad (as an opener),” Kangas said. “Everyone’s in the same boat we are. We had a short practice yesterday knowing that we were coming out today. We were somewhat of an underdog. We got five seniors on the varsity that will lead us this year. We did some good things, but we definitely need to get back in the gym tomorrow.”

Castor finished with 23 points and two triples, and Ballard notched 19. Hunter Potier also collected 13 points.

“I think it was a great first game for us,” Cretens said. “We got asked to move this game, but I thought our kids needed to play. I wasn’t coming into this game as needing a win or loss. We needed to do this. Our kids needed to play. We haven’t gotten to practice, but we wanted to play a game. How ugly it got, it was because we hadn’t practiced. We haven’t had a contact practice.”

Warren collected 22 and five triples, and Wyatt Gierke finished with 14.

Gladstone, which won the JV game 40-38 with a buzzer-beating triple, travels to Kingsford Thursday.

“We expect them to be pretty tough,” Cretens said. “They have a deep team. They’re going to be a tough matchup for us.”

Manistique visits Munising Wednesday.

Manistique 7 13 10 17 — 47

Gladstone 17 26 21 14 — 78

Manistique — Warren 22, Gierke 14, Blixt 4, Boriboune 3, Zellar 2, Dechow 2; F: 11; Fouled out: none; FT: 2-4; 3-point field goals: Warren 5, Gierke 3, Boriboune 1.

Gladstone — Castor 23, Ballard 19, Potier 13, Kelly 8, Hughes 6, Bernson 4, Downey 2, Howard 2, Hansen 1; F: 8; Fouled out: none; FT: 14-16; 3-point field goals: Castor 2.