Gladstone freshman Alex Prins (white jersey) drives to the basket during a Great Northern Conference basketball game on Jan. 9, 2025 at Gladstone High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — Kingsford boys’ basketball proved why it’s the No. 2 team in the U.P. with a 62-34 Great Northern Conference win over Gladstone on Thursday.

“We knew coming in that (Kingsford) was going to bring energy and play fast. Our kids needed to see that,” Braves coach Jake Kiesby said. “Kingsford sets a standard on how to be successful because they’ve been successful for the past few years. You can watch film, but the only way to experience it is to see it. We saw it first hand tonight.”

The Flivvers (9-1, 2-1 GNC) claimed the game’s first nine points and claimed a 21-3 lead after eight minutes of play. Senior Gavin Grondin and junior Jett Buckley were responsible for all 21 of Kingsford’s points.

Kingsford kept rolling, closing the first half with a 39-11 lead entering the locker room. Grondin knocked down 15 of his game-best 25 points in the first half.

“We’ve been working on defending people in the half court with a lot of pressure and denying passes away,” Olsen said. “That gave Gladstone a lot of problems. It’s been giving pretty much everyone problems other than marquette. Our defense led to offense, and that’s what got us a little bit of a lead and extend it.”

Olsen was quick to point out the importance of Thursday’s win. If the Flivvers want a chance to claim at least a share of the GNC title they have to run the table. And it started with the win on Thursday.

“We have to go on the road and take care of business, and I thought we did that tonight,” Olsen said. “Every road game in the GNC is tough. You have to come out with the mindset of wanting to win.”

While the No. 2 Flivvers are eying a GNC title and another deep postseason run, Gladstone (2-8, 0-3) has different goals. The young Braves squad continues their quest for growth and development throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Kiesby had one particular goal before the game. It was written out on the whiteboard before tip-off: match the energy.

“We knew there were X’s and O’s, we knew we had to do things to (contain) Grondin and their other guards, and they’re great shooters,” Kiesby explained. “But we can’t get to that point until these guys learn how to compete, until they learn to bring energy. Our main goal tonight was to compete. We knew what Kingsford was going to do. Are we going to match that or not?”

The Braves host Gwinn at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. The No. 2 Flivvers play host to the all too familiar Iron Mountain Mountaineers on Tuesday night.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” said Olsen, an Iron Mountain graduate. “I wish every kid could play in a game where the communities come out like they do for this game. It’s a packed environment and the gym is loud. I’m fortunate to have played in it and now fortunate to coach in it.”

Box score

Kingsford 21 18 9 14 — 62

Gladstone 3 8 9 14 — 34

Kingsford — Olkkonen 10, Kriegl 2, Trevillian 7, Buckley 13, Grondin 25, Finley 3, Erickson 2; FT: 4-6; Fouls: 5; 3-point baskets: Grondin 3, Buckley 2, Olkkonen 2, Trevillian 1, Finley 1

Gladstone — Davey 7, Prins 6, Rexford 5, Sadler 7, Reynolds 9; FT: 1-5; Fouls: 5; 3-point baskets: Davey 1, Rexford 1, Reynolds 1