GLADSTONE — The Gladstone girls had a fight on their hands, but prevailed in a season-opening 50-38 basketball victory over the Kingsford Flivvers here Tuesday night.

Gladstone led 39-33 with 5:26 left to play in this Great Northern Conference match-up.

Senior Lillie Johnson scored the next six points, giving the Braves a 41-33 lead on a lay-in, then sank a 21-foot jump shot from the left wing to make it 44-33.

With three minutes remaining, the Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit split a pair of free throws to give the Braves a 45-33 advantage.

“We got a lot of good looks, but missed a lot of layups,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens said. “The girls know Lillie is going to get double and triple-teamed. The other girls have to be ready to hit the outside shots.”

A layup by junior Jazzlyne Shaughnessy brought the Flivvers within 48-38 with 53 seconds remaining before Johnson ended the scoring on a jumper from the boulevard.

“I was real happy with the way we played,” Kingsford coach Mike Cross said. “We got some things to clean up, although I’m pleased with the effort.”

Gladstone led 27-16 at halftime before Kingsford trimmed its deficit to 27-20 on a layup by junior Alyvia Kowalski early in the third quarter.

Putbacks by Johnson and junior Adele Ostlund extended Gladstone’s lead to 31-20 midway through the third.

A jumper from the lane by Shaughnessy and a six-foot jumper by junior Madalyn Sleik, however, brought the Flivvers within 31-24.

The Flivvers shaved their deficit to 33-27 on a 21-foot jumper by sophomore guard Aubrie Moore with 3:10 remaining in the third.

Johnson then got a steal and turned it into a layup for a 35-27 cushion.

Moore, however, drained a pair of free throws and scored on a fast break layup to bring Kingsford within 35-31 late in the third.

Sophomore Tiahna Reynolds hit two free throws at 1:31, providing the Braves with a six-point cushion going into the fourth.

Gladstone took an 8-0 lead on a lay-in by Johnson before Kingsford responded with 11 unanswered points.

The Flivvers took an 11-8 lead on a 19-foot jumper by Moore before junior Eva Pankonien tied the score on a jumper from top of the key, leaving the score tied at 11 after the opening frame.

Kingsford, intent on controlling the pace, was within 17-16 after Kowalski sank a pair of gifters halfway through the second.

Gladstone then got its fast break going and finished the second with a 10-0 run, concluded by two free throws by senior guard Addy Blowers 61 seconds before the intermission.

“Something we talked about is we have to play our game no matter what,” Cretens said. “I think Ella (Bracket) was the player of the game for us. It took Lillie a while to get going.”

Johnson finished with 21 points. Moore paced Kingsford with 19.

“Aubrie was outstanding,” Cross said. “She controlled the tempo for us. I thought Jazz (Shaughnessy) also played well. She was really good on the boards. Overall, this was a good first game for us. That’s a good team. That’s a team that can really prepare us to get better. I thought our girls did a pretty good job guarding Lillie. She can go off for more than 21 points.”

The Braves committed nine turnovers and the Flivvers had 17.

“We’re pretty excited about that for our first game,” Cretens said. “Although, they didn’t put a lot of pressure on us. This gave us a chance to see where we’re at and what we need to work on.”

Gladstone, which dropped the jayvee game 43-31, visits Iron Mountain tonight at 6:15. Kingsford hosts the Mountaineers Monday.

Kingsford 11 5 15 7 — 38

Gladstone 11 16 10 13 — 50

Kingsford — Shaughnessy 7, Moore 19, Kowalski 6, Sleik 2, Olson 4. FT: 5-6; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Moore 3.

Gladstone — Blowers 2, Quigley 7, Bracket 6, Pankonien 8, Ostlund 2, Reynolds 4, Johnson 21. FT: 5-11; F: 12; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Bracket 2, Johnson 2, Quigley.