Gladstone junior Braden Miron defends against Negaunee senior Easton Guenette on Feb. 10, 2026 at Lakeview Gymnasium in Negaunee. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

NEGAUNEE — It took overtime to decide the winner of the district semifinal game as the Gladstone Braves game away with a 58-55 victory over the Negaunee Miners here Wednesday.

The Braves jumped out to an early 9-0 lead as sophomore Will Inghram drove to the basket for a layup and Junior Lonnie Dayey knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing. Senior Teagan Reynolds hit a pair of free throws and sophomore Alex Prins knocked down a mid range jumper to close the 9-0 run.

“Baketball is a game of runs,” Braves coach Jake Keisby said. “We started off hot then Negaunee had a great third quarter but we weathered the storm and did a good job of battling back. That is something we have done this entire season and we have always been in the fight down the stretch.”

The Miners got on the board as sophomore Waylon Harvala knocked down a 3-pointer and senior Easton Guenette drove to the basket for a layup to cut the deficit to 9-5.

Davey hit a floater for the Braves to make it 11-5 and Neagaunee answered with layups Tristan Slater and Pekrul to cut the Braves lead to 11-9 after one quarter of play.

Gladstone junior Tre Brunette and Davey each had a layup to start the second quarter and extend the Braves lead to 15-9. Davey was also 4-4 from the free throw line in the third quarter with the last two free throws putting the Braves up by 10 at 26-16.

Harvala hit his second 3-pointer late in the second quarter to send the Miners into the locker room down by seven at halftime.

The Miners were hot in the third quarter as Slater drove to the basket for a layup and Guenette knocked down the mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to 26-23. Prins knocked down a triple to put the Braves up 29-23.

Slater connected on three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Miners their first lead of the game at 32-29.

Davey knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game at 32.

The Miners had 3-pointers from Guenette and Slater to put Negaunee up 38-32. Slater had four 3-pointers in the third quarter and scored 14 of his 16 points in the third stanza.

The Braves answered with a 9-0 run as Prins knocked down a 3-pointer and a layup to cut the deficit to 38-37. Davey drove to the basket for a layup to put the Braves up 39-38.

“This was a big win for our team,” Davey said. “We went 7-17 last season and know we are playing for a district championship.”

Inghram scored a layup to cap off the run and extend the Braves lead to 41-38.

Guenette hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and give the Miners a 43-41 lead. Prins hit his fourth 3-pointer of the contest to put the Braves up 44-43 and a pair of free throws by Davey extended the Braves lead to 46-43. Guenette and Gleason each scored layups to put Negaunee up 47-46 and Gleason connected on a 3-pointer to put the Miners up 50-46.

The Braves were not done as Davey knocked down a fadeaway jumper and Inghram went hard to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 50.

The Miners got a good look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer but came up empty sending the game to overtime.

“We were just happy to be alive,” Prins said. “We were happy to see the shot miss and get another chance in overtime.”

The Braves scored the first points in overtime on a layup by Davey. Negaunee answered with a layup by Ethan Gauthier to tie the game at 52. And took the lead at 53-52 as Guenette split on a pair of free throws. Davey scored back-to-back layups to give the Braves a 56-53 lead and Negaunee got a pair of free throws by Gleason to cut the deficit to one. Prins was fouled as the Miners tried to extend the game. Prins converted on both free throws to put the Braves up three.

The Mines last second chance to tie failed and the Braves left Negaunee victorious and will now travel to Kingsford tonight to battle for the district championship.

Gladstone 11 15 13 9 8 — 58

Negaunee 9 10 21 10 5 — 55

Gladstone — Brunette 2, Lo. Davey 26, A. Prins 20, Inghram 8, Reynolds 2. FT: 12-12; F: 14; Fouled Out: Miron; 3-pointers: Prins 4, Davey 2.

Negaunee — Nelson 2, Gleason 9, Perkul 2, Guenette 14, Harvala 10, Slater 16, FT: 8-9; F: 11; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Slater 4, Guenette 2, Harvala 2, Gleason.