GLADSTONE — A month from now March Madness will begin and for the Gladstone Braves it could be a new beginning.

Gladstone will most likely be in one of the strongest districts in the U.P. with Escanaba, Kingsford and host Negaunee. The Braves play at Kingsford tonight and will host Negaunee on Valentine’s day next Tuesday.

Now is the time to start improving and thats exactly what Gladstone did Tuesday. Playing a more upbeat game with its full court pressure the Braves defeated Manistique 74-42 in its highest point output of the season.

Nick Matthews who scored 13 points playing a very good game on both ends of the court scored seven straight points to open the game one all net three pointer that gave the Braves a 15-8 lead. The smooth junior Elliot Vitito kept Gladstone rolling in the second hitting two big three pointers while the fine play of Eli Berthaume who scored 10 points, with his great speed keep Manistique off guard.

In the closing seconds of the quarter junior Tanner Howes hit a three pointer and a layup giving the Braves its biggest lead of the game 37-20 at halftime.

Drake Johnson kept the Braves balance attack going scored six points, one on a nice turn around jumper after getting his rebound. Thomas Tackman, who also played a strong game, scored six points as Gladstone build up its lead to 57-33.

Josh Racine, playing for the first time since early in the season, brought the Braves delegation to its feet working inside scoring two big baskets. Drew Hughes also playing a fine game scored four of his six points with Owen Gereau a freshman hit a three pointer at the buzzer.

Gladstone hit 28 out of 52 shots with all of the Braves scoring.

Manistique, which defeated Westwood and handed Iron Mountain its only loss of the year, was lead in scoring by Bryce Blixt with 14 and Parker Graphos 10 points.

Gladstone-Matthews 13, Berthaume 10, Vitito 10, Howes 7, Gibbs 6, Tackman 6, Hughes 6, Johnson 6, Racine 4, Geereau 3, Roman 2, Bracket 2.

Manistique-Zellar 4, Demers 9. Dougherty 5, Graphos 10, Blixt 14