Gladstone senior Lillie Johnson goes to the basket for a layup against Escanaba on Jan. 2, 2026 at Escanaba High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Murphy’s law was in full effect here Friday night for the Escanaba Eskymos girls basketball team as they fell 80-29 to the Gladstone Braves. The Braves were led by Lillie Johnson who had a double-double with 29 points 12 rebounds with seven assists and five steals.

“It was a tough one,” Eskymos coach Tracy Hudson said. “We played a great team with a great player and the pressure took us out of the game early.”

Thr Braves jumped out to an early 8-0 lead as Johnson made a pair of free throws and followed it up with a pair of layups and Eva Pankonien took a pass from Johnson and went to the basket for a layup.

After a layup for the Eskymos by Landry Bray. Johnson answered with three consecutive layup to extend the Braves lead to 14-2.

“We knew it was a rivalry game and we had to come out with a fast start,” Johnson said. “I feel like we did that tonight and it’s always big to win a game against our biggest rivals.”

The Braves started the second quarter scoring the first 14 points, part of a 24-0 run to put the Braves up 47-6. The Braves went into the halftime break up 60-15. The Braves opened up the second half on a 11-2 run extending the Braves lead to 71-17.

Along with Johnson, juniors Adele Ostlund and Eva Pankonien each had 12 points. The Eskymos were led by Landry Bray with eight points.

Gladstone won the JV game.

Gladstone 33 27 13 7 — 80

Escanaba 6 9 4 10 — 29

Gladstone — Johnson 29, Blowers 8, Quigley 8, Bracket 4, Pankonien 12, Sundquist 3, Ostlund 12, Reynolds 4. FT: 14-24; F: 11; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Pankonien 2, Johnson, Blowers, Sundquist.

Escanaba — Beauchamp 6, VanDamme 3, Bray 8, Mylander 3, Stalboeger 2, Anderson 6. FT: 9-14; F: 15; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Mylander, VanDamme.