GLADSTONE — The Gladstone girls were tested, but outlasted a determined Calumet basketball team 49-41 here Friday night.

Gladstone was clinging to a 43-40 lead with 75 seconds left to play in this physical non-conference contest until senior Lillie Johnson hit a layup on a pass from junior Adele Ostlund.

Johnson drained two free throws to put the Braves up 47-40 with 42.5 seconds left, then sealed the deal with a pair of gifters with less than 20 seconds remaining.

“That’s a good team,” Braves’ coach Andy Cretens. “I think they have some firepower. They’re better than their record shows. Every girl on their team can shoot 3s. You can’t back off on anybody. They’re pretty hard to defend. When they pick you up full court, it becomes a little more physical.”

The Copper Kings (3-8) were within 38-37 halfway through the fourth quarter.

Johnson then sank a 20-foot jumper to put the Braves up by four points and Ostlund hit a six-foot jumper to make it 43-37 with 3:18 left to play.

“We gave a good effort,” Calumet coach Charlie Kemppainen. “The kids played hard. It wasn’t just the Lillie Johnson show. Number four (sophomore Ella Bracket) surprised me by knocking down a couple 3s. It was a one-possession game with (slightly more than) a minute left. When you play against a good team, that’s all you can ask for. I’ve got hard-working athletes. You can do a lot with that.”

Calumet took a 35-34 lead on a 20-foot jumper from the left baseline by freshman Kyla Strom in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.

The Braves regained the lead quickly, then made it 38-35 on a layup by senior guard Addy Blowers on a pass from Johnson with more than six minutes remaining.

“Lillie got things going in the second half,” Cretens said. “She also hit 10-of-13 free throws and that helped. Ella was also huge for us tonight. She went 3-for-7 from three-point range. We don’t win without those three.”

Gladstone led 24-21 at halftime and extended its lead to 32-26 on a layup by Johnson with 2:22 left in the third frame.

The Braves were up 34-29 late in the third before junior Millie Loukus hit a 21-foot jumper from the right wing to make it 34-32 with one second left in that quarter.

It was tied at 13 after the first quarter and Blowers drained a 22-foot jumper to put the Braves up 24-19 late in the second.

Johnson finished with 27 points, pushing her career total to 1,978. She also grabbed 12 rebounds. Bracket added nine points and Ostlund had eight.

Loukus led Calumet with 13 points and Strom had 10.

The Braves committed 13 turnovers and the Copper Kings had 10.

Gladstone also won the jayvee game 49-23. Sophomore Ava Goodman led the Braves with nine points. Bracket and freshman Cami Runne hit eight apiece. Bethany McParlan paced the Copper Kings with 13.

The Braves host Ishpeming Tuesday. The Copper Kings host Negaunee Tuesday and Escanaba Friday.

Calumet 13 8 11 9 — 41

Gladstone 13 11 10 15 — 49

Calumet — K. Strom 10, Anderson 9, Johnson 7, Loukus 13, B. Strom 7. FT: 9-14; F: 20; Fouled out: B. Strom; 3-point field goals: Loukus 3, K. Strom 2, Johnson.

Gladstone — Blowers 5, Bracket 9, Ostlund 8, Johnson 27. FT: 12-17; F: 15; Fouled out: Blowers; 3-point field goals: Bracket 3, Johnson 2, Blowers.