Gladstone senior Kaden Gibbs (12) drives to the basket against Negaunee on Dec. 11, 2023 at Gladstone Area High School. Gibbs scored two of his 14 points on this play.

GLADSTONE — Gladstone boys basketball came up short 48-43 in a defensive battle against Negaunee Monday night in a Mid-Peninsula conference matchup.

The Braves got off to a fast start when Thomas Tackman came up with a steal and threw an outlet pass to Kaden Gibbs for a layup to put the Braves up 4-2. On the next Gladstone possession, senior Nick Matthews went hard to the basket, getting the hoop and the foul on Negaunee junior Holden Meyer Matthews. Matthews converted the three-point-play and the Braves led 7-4. After a Miners basket by junior Baron Heslip, Matthews hit a shot from downtown and the Braves led 10-6. The Braves ended the first quarter on a powerful drive to the basket by Drake Johnson who got the lay-in and the Braves led 14-11 after one.

“We did some good things early,” Braves coach Jake Kiesby said. “It was an improvement from the Ispheming game.”

The second quarter started with Gibbs hitting a mid-range jumper. Miners senior Gavin Saunders got things going for the visitors by hitting a corner three to cut the Braves lead to 16-14.

After a basket by Matthews, Braves junior Evan Woelffer drove to the lane for the basket and the foul. He converted the free throw and the Braves led 21-14.

Saunders answered back for the miners hitting a mid-range jumper and followed that up with his second shot from downtown to pull within two at 21-19.

With seconds left in the half, Braves senior Gibbs threw up a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but was fouled by Miners junior Jordan Guenette. Gibbs hit on all three of the free throws and the Braves took a 28-23 lead into the half.

Things started to fall apart for the Braves in the third quarter.

Saunders hit a shot from downtown early in the quarter for three of his 17 points on the night for the Miners as they pulled within three at 29-26. The turnovers began to plague the Braves again in the third quarter with eight of their 17 turnovers on the night.

“We can’t be giving up the late game turnovers,” Kiesby said.

Halfway through the third quarter, Heslip was at the line for the Miners with a chance to take the lead. He hit both free throws and the Miners led 30-29. Tackman picked up his third foul late in the third quarter that sent Heslip back to the line where he converted both free throws to tie the game at 32 all. The Braves and Miners were tied at 35 after three.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Miners as junior Ty Jacobson hit a 3-pointer to give the lead back to the Miners. Negaunee never trailed again to pick up the 48-43 win.

Gladstone will be back in action on Thursday as they host Manistique. The Miners host Marquette at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Negaunee 11 12 12 13 –48

Gladstone 14 14 7 8 — 43

Negaunee — Jacobson 5, Guenette 10, Peters 2, Saunders 17, Heslip 11, Meyer 3. F: 14 Fouled Out: None. FT: 9-12 3-point field goals: Saunders 3, Guenette, Meyer, Jacobson.

Gladstone — Bracket 5, Tackman 2, Gibbs 14, Matthews 13, Woelffer 5, Johnson 4. F: 19 Fouled Out: Matthews. FT: 10-16. 3-point field goals: Matthews.