Gladstone sophomore Eva Pankonien (10) hugs senior Mayce Hanson while senior Alexa Wetthuhn (23) hugs assistant coach Tasi Martinez during the final moments of a MHSAA Division 2 state quarterfinal game against Frankenmuth on March 18, 2025 at Cheboygan High School. Hanson and Wetthuhn are the Braves lone seniors on a team which reached the state quarterfinal round for the first time since 2012 and for the third time in program history. (Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

CHEBOYGAN — Gladstone girls basketball’s magical March run came to an end on Tuesday.

Despite a 20-point effort from junior phenom Lillie Johnson the Braves lost 56-36 to Frankenmuth in a Division 2 state quarterfinal round game at Cheboygan High School.

The Braves season ends at 24-3 while reaching the state quarterfinal round for the first time since 2012 and  for the third time in program history.

“We just ran out of gas,” Braves coach Andy Cretens said. “We just didn’t execute our stuff early enough and got ourselves behind. That’s too good of a team to fight back from.”

The Braves pounced early with a 9-4 lead thanks to contributions from Johnson, junior Addy Blowers and sophomore Eva Pankonien. With momentum on their side and over 100 Gladstone students furiously cheering, everything appeared to be going in favor of the purple and white.

Then the Eagles uncorked a 16-2 run, capped by one of four triples from sophomore Lucy Conzelmann for a 20-11 lead.

The Braves clawed to within four points off a successful and-1 opportunity from sophomore Adele Ostlund and a layup from senior Mayce Hanson, but that’s as close as the Braves got in Tuesday’s showdown.

“We feel really grateful for being here,” Cretens said. “We weren’t picked to be here. We’re excited we got those two extra weeks that we weren’t expecting to have.”

Frankenmuth wasted no time making it apparent that it wanted to slow down Johnson. The Eagles matchup zone defense limited opportunities to get downhill for the Braves, and getting the ball out to Johnson in the paint was anything but easy.

As soon as Johnson stepped inside the paint or got the ball she was mobbed by multiple defenders like a pack of bees flocking to a half-melted popsicle on a sunny, July afternoon. Johnson was bottled to seven points in the first half.

“Lillie is a heck of a player,” Frankenmuth coach Joe Jacobs said of Johnson. “She’s one of the best players we’ve seen this season.”

Now the Eagles collide with Tecumseh at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinal round.

“Gladstone is a heck of a team. Well coached, good players,” Jacobs said. “We wanted one more day. That’s been our mantra for quite a while now. Just get one more day.”

The Braves are forced to say goodbye to a pair of seniors in Hanson and center Alexa Wetthuhn.

“It’s really a special group,” Cretens said of the 2024-25 iteration of Gladstone girls’ basketball. “They’re so tight knit. They love hanging out with each other, they love being around each other. They made it really special for us as a community and coaches, because it was easy to go to practice every day.”

Box score

Gladstone 11 6 12 7 — 36

Frankenmuth 13 10 15 20 — 56

Gladstone — Blowers 2, Hansen 5, Pankonien 6, Ostlund 3, Johnson 20; FT: 3-7; Fouls: 14; Technical fouls: Johnson, coach; 3-point baskets: Johnson 2, Pankonien 2, Hansen 1

Frankenmuth — C. Conzelmann 17, R. Brenner 6, Bernthal 7, L. Conzelmann 13, Donovan 12, G. Brenner 1; FT: 17-21; Fouls: 13; 3-point baskets: L. Conzelmann 13, C. Conzelmann 2, Donovan 1