Gladstone senior Lillie Johnson goes in for a layup.

GLADSTONE — Lillie Johnson reached an important milestone while leading the Gladstone girls to a 51-30 basketball triumph over Ishpeming Westwood here Tuesday night.

The senior forward scored 27 points, pushing her career total to 1,822, more than enough to set the all-time school record.

Her current record is 20 points more than the previous best by Reece Castor in 2019.

Johnson accomplished that on a 20-foot jump shot from the right wing which gave the Braves a 12-4 lead with two minutes, 25 seconds left in the first quarter.

“It was pretty exciting to reach that and see all the support that came out,” she said. “It was definitely a relief to get the nerves out and help our team win. They’re a pretty good team, but I think the game got a little more rough than competitive.”

The Braves (6-2) took an 18-6 lead on a lay-in by sophomore Malia Quigley, set up on a pass from Johnson with two seconds left in the opening frame, which was part of a 10-0 run.

Gladstone increased its lead to 24-6 early in the second and pushed it to 32-15 on Johnson’s putback and free throw at 1:44.

Johnson also drained a 20-foot jumper to make it 35-15 with 1:12 remaining in the second.

“It was really a choppy game,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens said. “They tried to press us in the beginning. Both teams missed a lot of easy baskets. You can do everything right, but when you don’t finish it can kind of throw you off. It makes it kind of hard to get into a rhythm.”

A steal and layup by Johnson increased Gladstone’s advantage to 42-20 midway through the third stanza.

Westwood (1-5), however, scored the last four points in the third and shaved its deficit to 42-24 on a jumper from the right corner by senior Kaylin Doney.

The Braves started the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run, gaining an insurmountable 48-24 cushion on a six-foot jumper by junior Eva Pankonien at 4:02.

Johnson scored Gladstone’s first seven points and senior guard Addie Blowers gave the Braves a 9-4 lead on a six-foot jumper, setting the stage for Johnson’s record-setting shot.

Pankonien finished with nine points and junior Adele Ostlund added seven for the Braves, who committed 14 turnovers.

Sophomore Lyn Magnuson hit 12 points and Doney finished with 11 for the Patriots, who finished with 17 miscues.

“They’re pretty good defensively,” Cretens said. “They do some good things and they’re getting better.”

The Braves, who squeezed past the Patriots 37-36 in the jayvee contest, host Manistique Friday.

Westwood travels to Houghton Thursday.

Westwood 6 12 6 6 — 30

Gladstone 18 17 9 9 — 51

Ishpeming Westwood — Ruby 2, Schneider 2, E. Doney 2, Horrocks 1, K. Doney 11, Magnuson 12. FT: 8-14; F: 16; Fouled out: K. Doney; 3-point field goals: K. Doney 2.

Gladstone — Blowers 2, Quigley 4, Pankonien 9, Ostlund 7, Reynolds 2, Johnson 27. FT: 7-14; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Johnson 3, Pankonien.