Todd Rose | Daily Press Gladstone’s Elliot Vitito (30) shoots over Negaunee’s Gavin Jacobson (left) Monday in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — Defense was the name of the game here Monday night as the Negaunee boys handed Gladstone a 35-22 basketball loss.

Negaunee, playing its usual tight man-to-man, led 20-7 at halftime of this Mid-Peninsula Conference match-up.

“I thought this was a great defensive effort by our guys,” said Negaunee coach Dan Waterman. “I also thought we got into a good offensive flow in the second and third quarter. Only, we couldn’t get our shots to go down (in the third). Much of the credit goes to Gladstone’s defense. I’m impressed by how hard they played and super proud of our guys.”

Gladstone took its only lead on a jump shot from the right corner by senior guard Caden Downey 54 seconds into the contest.

Negaunee then took a 4-3 lead on a pair of free throws by senior guard Gerald Johnson midway through the first quarter and led 7-3 going into the second.

The Miners (2-1 overall, 2-0 M-PC) continued their 17-0 run, surging to a 19-4 advantage on a 12-foot jumper by junior Gavin Johnson with 1:33 remaining in the second.

Gladstone (0-2 overall and league) scored its only points in the second on a jumper from top of the key by sophomore guard Kaden Gibbs, shaving its deficit to 19-7 with 44 seconds left.

After both teams struggled from the floor in the third, the Miners took their biggest lead (28-13) on a 21-foot jumper from the right wing by Gerald Johnson early in the fourth.

The Braves got within 29-20 on a 14-foot jumper by sophomore forward Elliot Vitito with 4:52 remaining in a contest in which both teams ran a half-court offense.

Gladstone, traditionally an uptempo team in the past, was unable to get any closer down the stretch.

“I think the half-court game works better for us,” said Braves coach Colin Immel, who was a point guard under Waterman at Munising more than a decade ago. “Right now, we don’t have too much experience. In the first half, we weren’t aggressive enough. In the second half, we were a little more aggressive and started scoring a little more.”

Immel says this season is a learning experience.

“We had kind of weird off-season,” he added. “We sometimes couldn’t get into the gym because of COVID. We’ve been together for about a month, and I’m just getting to know the guys, and they’re just getting to know me. I think we have a good relationship. We just have to build on our basketball experience.”

Gerald Johnson scored 15 points for the Miners, who committed eight turnovers.

“We wanted to force them to become perimeter-oriented, and I thought (freshman) Ty Jacobson did a great job fronting their post players,” said Waterman. “Although, they made some shots in the second half. We need to improve offensively. Right now, we have to count on our defense to carry us. Oftentimes, defense is ahead of offense this early in the season.”

Gibbs hit nine points for Gladstone, which didn’t hit a two-point shot until the fourth quarter. The Braves finished with 12 turnovers.

Negaunee also won the JV contest 43-37 and freshmen game 53-20.

The Braves host Manistique Thursday, and the Miners host West Iron County Friday.

Negaunee 7 13 5 10 — 35

Gladstone 3 4 4 11 — 22

Negaunee — Jacobson 6, Sager 3, Downey 2, Bell 6, Gerald Johnson 15, Gavin Johnson 2, Turri 1. FT: 5-8; F: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Gerald Johnson 2.

Gladstone — Gibbs 9, Downey 5, Vitito 7, Johnson 1. FT: 4-7; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Gibbs 2, Downey, Vitito.