GLADSTONE — Even a slow start couldn’t stop Gladstone girls basketball from earning another win on Saturday. The Braves ultimately cruised past Calumet 52-22.

“We talked about getting off to a good start and today we got off to a terrible start,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens said. “I know this was our third game in a week, but we’ve got to find a way to get better leadership while starting the game. We need to bring more intensity. I thought we had a good game plan. We watched film and talked about it. Although. they were very aggressive in their zone. This was a good learning experience for us playing against a zone. They flew around and played the passing lanes very well.”

Gladstone was trailing 5-1 midway through the first quarter before sophomore forward Lillie Johnson jumpstarted its offense with 14 of her 22 points.

The Copper Kings took their four-point lead on an eight-foot floater by senior guard Caitlyn Strom.

Johnson then started a 19-0 run on a 20-foot jump shot from the right wing and finished it with a 20-foot jumper from the left baseline for a 20-5 cushion midway through the second.

Freshman Millie Loukus hit Calumet’s lone field goal in the second before freshman Adele Ostman provided Gladstone with a pair of free throws and a lay-in for a 24-7 halftime advantage.

“When they took their time against our zone, they carved it up,” Calumet coach Charlie Kemppainen said. “They got a lot of layups and we had too many unforced turnovers. We need to get tougher. I thought we would compete better today. Five points a quarter is not enough and scoring just two in the second quarter really hurt us. We still had a chance at halftime. Credit to them. They took us out of it.”

The Braves (5-3) extended their lead to 38-13 on a lay-in by sophomore guard Addy Blowers midway through the third.

Calumet (3-4) trimmed its deficit to 38-18 on a pair of gifters by Strom with 73 seconds left in the third.

Gladstone responded with 12 unanswered points, pushing its lead to 50-18 on a layup by Johnson, set up on a pass from Blowers.

“Addy has been a spark plug for us,” Cretens said. “Hopefully, this will get her going and Adele stepped up and did some good things. Lillie got a couple mid-range jump shots and got us going early. Number two (Strom) is very good on top of their zone. She’s long and very athletic. She’s a nice player.”

Gladstone also got eight points apiece from Blowers, Ostman and junior guard Mayce Hanson. Strom led the Copper Kings with 13.

The teams combined for 43 turnovers, including 23 for Gladstone.

Gladstone hosts Ishpeming Westwood Tuesday, a week after the Braves dropped a 51-26 decision on the road to the Patriots. Calumet hosts Baraga Tuesday.

Box Score

Calumet 5 2 11 4 — 22

Gladstone 15 9 16 12 — 52

Calumet — C. Strom 13, Keranen 2, Loukus 5, B. Strom 2. FT: 6-13; F: 18; Fouled out: C. Strom; 3-point field goals: C. Strom 2.

Gladstone — Blowers 8, Hanson 8, Pankonien 3, Ostlund 8, Johnson 22, Schone 3. FT: 5-9; F: 16; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Johnson 4, Hanson 2, Pankonien.