By John Vrancic

For the Daily Press

GLADSTONE — It was difficult for a pair of boys’ basketball teams to get untracked against tight man-to-man defense here Monday night.

Gladstone generated just enough offense in the end to pull out a 46-43 triumph over the Negaunee Miners in a Mid-Peninsula Conference match-up.

Senior guard Easton Guenette gave the Miners a 43-35 lead on a layup, set up on a pass from senior forward-center Ethan Gauthier with 4:29 left in the contest.

Gladstone finished with an 11-0 run, with senior guard Lonnie Davey splitting a pair of free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining.

Negaunee still had one more chance, but turned the ball over on an over-and-back violation.

“I thought we battled, especially for the first three quarters,” Braves’ coach Jake Kiesby said. “The guys were flying around. We rotated on defense and had each other’s back. I think it’s an important win. We were able to grind one out which is absolutely a confidence builder.”

Sophomore guard Alex Prins started the decisive run with a steal under Negaunee’s basket and a layup with 4:07 left to play.

Davey pulled the Braves within 43-40 on a jump shot from top of the key with 2:45 remaining.

The Braves climbed within 43-42 on a layup by Prins, set up on a pass from junior guard Braidyn Miron at 2:12, then took a 45-43 lead on a 21-foot jumper by Miron with 1:34 left.

“We didn’t handle the pressure very well,” Negaunee coach Bill Hill said. “The guys got tentative. We’ve got the young players, and we turned the ball over too much.”

The Miners led 31-30 after the third stanza, then extended their lead to 34-30 on a jumper from top of the key by junior guard Cole Pekrul to open the fourth.

Negaunee then made it 36-30 on a six-foot jumper by Pekrul with 7:03 left.

The Braves were within 38-35 after sophomore forward Will Inghram drained a pair of gifters at 5:35.

Sophomore guard Waylon Harvala then sank a jumper from top of the key to put the Miners up by six points.

Gladstone gained a 22-18 lead on a 10-foot jumper by Davey in the closing moments of the second frame.

The Braves held a 24-18 cushion early in the third before the Miners closed within 24-23 at 5:08.

A 17-foot jumper by Inghram gave Gladstone a 28-23 lead midway through the third.

Negaunee responded with six unanswered points, taking a 29-28 lead on Pekrul’s turn-around jumper from the boulevard with 2:16 left in the third, forcing the Braves to use a time-out.

A steal and layup by Davey put Gladstone ahead 30-29 before Negaunee regained the lead to end that quarter.

Negaunee led 12-11 after the first quarter before Gladstone surged ahead to take the lead into the halftime locker room.

Davey led the Braves with 20 points and Inghram had nine. Harvala paced the Miners with 13 and Pekrul added 12.

“Lonnie moved the ball and found the open man,” Kiesby said. “We still need to get better in late-game situations. Give Negaunee credit. Bill is doing heck of a job. Winning this game helps our momentum going into Escanaba (Friday).

Negaunee, which hosts Ishpeming Westwood Friday, committed 21 turnovers.

“This was our fourth game in six days,” Hill said. “I think the kids just ran out of juice. Waylon just got pulled up yesterday (from the jayvees Sunday). I thought Cole (Pekrul) played real tough off the glass and Ethan (Gauthier) did a good job. We’ve got a good, young group. We’ll get better. We just have to take care of the basketball.”

The Braves, who also won the jayvee game, had just nine miscues.

Negaunee 12 6 13 12 — 43

Gladstone 11 11 8 16 — 46

Negaunee — Nelson 5, Pekrul 12, Guenette 2, Prusi 5, Harvala 13, Gauthier 6. FT: 3-4; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Pekrul 2, Harvala 2, Prusi.

Gladstone — Brunette 4, Miron 3, Davey 20, Prins 6, Gereau 4, Inghram 9. FT: 5-8; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Davey 3, Miron, Inghram.