Gladstone sophomore Lonnie Davey (3) attempts a contested jumper against Ishpeming on Jan. 30, 2025 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — Sophomore Lonnie Davey enjoyed a career night here Thursday, leading the Gladstone boys in a hard-fought 55-51 basketball triumph over the Ishpeming Hematites.

Davey scored a career-high 32 points in this Mid-Peninsula Conference match-up, featuring tight man-to-man defensive pressure most of the way and high intensity from start to finish.

“It wasn’t perfect, but this is a good boost for us,” Braves’ coach Jake Kiesby said. “At times we did some things we shouldn’t have done, but we’re sometimes going to have that as a young team. We wanted to come out with intensity and focus on their main guys, and in the end we found a way to get it done. Give credit to Ishpeming. They kept battling.”

The contest was tied at 51 following a five-foot jumper by junior John Wheeler in the final 15 seconds.

A lay-in by freshman Alex Prins gave the Braves a 53-51 lead with five seconds left.

Davey sank a free throw on a technical foul at 3.6 seconds and a gifter by Prins sealed the victory with 2.1 remaining.

“For Alex to do that as a freshman is amazing,” Davey said. “The guys have faith in me. They always want to give me the ball. This was a very fun game. This is also our first win at home this season and a good team win. This is a morale boost for the team. We needed this one. We’re just going to stay humble and try to get better everyday.”

The Braves (4-11) took a 50-39 lead on Davey’s jump shot from the lane with 4:10 left to play.

Senior Caden Luoma then sank a jumper from top of the key with 3:10 remaining and junior Grady Gauthier added a jumper from nearly the same spot and a free throw at 2:27, bringing the Hematites within 50-46.

Ishpeming (7-7) moved within 50-49 on a 20-foot jumper from the left wing by junior Ken Ambuehl with 1:11 left.

A free throw by Prins put the Braves up by two points with 60 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Wheeler’s tying shot and a hectic finish.

The teams went back and forth in the third quarter before Davey’s jumper from the boulevard gave the Braves a 40-37 lead.

Ishpeming was within 42-39 early in the fourth when Luoma scored on a layup.

The Braves responded with eight unanswered points for their largest cushion in the contest.

Beside Davey’s career-high scoring, the Braves got 12 points from Prins.

Luoma led the Hematites with 17 points and senior Ethan Corp added 10.

“Luoma is a great player,” Kiesby said. “We wanted to keep an eye on him at all times. Lonnie played well and shot well. He maintains his confidence and doesn’t back down.”

Ishpeming committed 19 turnovers and Gladstone had 18.

The Braves host Manistique Monday and travel to No. 1 Marquette Tuesday.

“We’re just going to take it one game at a time,” Davey said. “We can’t overlook anybody. Manistique has a good team and Marquette is very tough.”

Ishpeming hosted No. 2 Iron Mountain Friday and will resume with a home game against No. 4 Ishpeming Westwood Wednesday.

Box score

Ishpeming 14 9 14 14 — 51

Gladstone 13 12 15 15 — 55

Ishpeming — Luoma 17, Ambuehl 3, Gauthier 8, Nicholls 7, Corp 10, Wheeler 6. FT: 4-11; F: 16; Fouled out: None; Technical foul: Luoma; 3-point field goals: Luoma, Ambuehl, Gauthier

Gladstone — Gereau 3, Davey 32, Prins 12, Reynolds 4, Hughes 4. FT: 8-15; F: 17; Fouled out: Reynolds; 3-point field goals: Davey 4, Gereau