Gladstone girls recognize staff members who had an impact on them prior to last night's game againt Gwinn on Feb. 12, 2026 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — Gladstone junior Eva Pankonien hit a program record nine 3-pointers previously held by Lillie Johnson with seven as the Braves rolled past Gwinn 64-37 here Thursday.

“It felt great, I had a good shootaround today,” Pankonien said. “They played a zone defense to take away Lillie and after I made the first two I started to feel comfortable. I know what I can do and know I can shoot the ball well.”

Pankonien hit her first two 3-pointers in the first quarter, with the second one putting the Braves up 10-7.

Pankonien hit two more 3-pointers in the second quarter to put the Braves up 27-12 at the half.

The Braves came out of the halftime break on fire as Pankonien knocked down four 3-pointers with the last one breaking the record held by Johnson and putting the Braves up 47-20.

Pankonien added one for good measure in the fourth quarter that put the Braves up 53-27.

“We wanted to make the other players beat us,” Gwinn coach Adam Ely said. “We did a good job of containing Lillie but other players stepped up and made shots and you have to give them credit.”

Pankonien finished the game with 27 points and Lillie Johnson had 10 points.

“Gwinn threw something new at us tonight,” Braves coach Andy Cretens said. “They play a good man-to-man defense but they switched to a zone which flustered us early. Eva got hot from outside and we needed that from her for sure.”

The Braves will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Kingsford.

Gwinn 8 4 13 12 — 37

Gladstone 10 17 23 14 — 64

Gwinn — Delmont 10, Malette 5, Jakubowski 3, Derwin 17, Soyring 2. FT: 10-14; F: 7; 3-pointers: Delmont 2, Jakubowski.

Gladstone — Blowers 4, Quigley 3, Bracket 8, Pankonien 27, Sundquist 3, Ostlund 3, Reynolds 6, Johnson 10. FT: 3-5; 3-pointers: Pankonien 9, Bracket 2, Reynolds 2, Johnson 2, Blowers, Quigley, Sundquist, Ostlund.