Gladstone senior Alexa Wetthuhn (23) attempts to secure a rebound during a game against Negaunee on Jan. 28, 2025 at Gladstone High School. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — No. 1 vs No. 2.

It’s a matchup seldomly seen in sports. Unless you were in Gladstone on Tuesday, then you witnessed the Braves, the No. 2 girls’ basketball team in the U.P. host No. 1 Negaunee in the first of potentially three meetings this season.

Despite a clear home court advantage, the Braves couldn’t find a rhythm on offense. The Miners never trailed for a single second in their 45-28 win, handing Gladstone its first loss of the season.

“We didn’t execute, didn’t finish, didn’t do what we needed to do and what we could have done,” Braves coach Andy Cretens said. “We did some good things. We couldn’t complete or finish plays.”

The Miners (15-0) claimed 14 of the game’s first 19 points off four points from senior Aubrey Johnson and eight points from sophomore Gretel Johnson. The Braves (11-1) pulled within four points in the second after junior Addy Blowers knocked down a jumper to make it a 17-13 deficit with Aubrey Johnson sitting on the bench with three fouls.

But it’s as close as the Braves got the entire night. The Miners closed the first half on a 7-0 run behind three more points from Gretel Johnson to take a 24-13 lead into intermission.

“It was a good game to be in because of the big game feel,” Miners coach Mike O’Donnell said. “Both teams made mistakes, but I thought we figured some stuff out as the game went on. Gladstone’s a really good team, so to come into their house and walk away with a win we’re going to be happy with that.”

No. 1 Negaunee had the answer to slowing down Gladstone junior and reigning First-Team All-State selection Lillie Johnson. Aubrey Johnson kept with Lillie Johnson (no relation by the way) when locked up in man-to-man defense, and any zone defense forced Lillie Johnson to maneuver through multiple defenders for awkward looks near the basket.

Lillie Johnson was slowed down to 13 points in the loss.

“Our girls just buy into the game plan,” O’Donnell said. “Aubrey really worked her tail off, and then we got good help defense. It’s just an awareness of what (Gladstone) is trying to do.”

For the No. 2 Braves, Tuesday’s loss brought up a specific scenario. Gladstone entered the fourth quarter trailing 33-23. Blowers and senior Mayce Hanson, both crucial parts of the Braves’ backcourt, possessed four fouls in its biggest game of the season to date with Lillie Johnson stuck in first gear against the No. 1 team in the U.P. which reached the Division 2 state semifinal round a year prior.

It’s a nightmare scenario for a team with eight players to its varsity roster. But it’s a scenario the Braves faced on Jan. 28th and not in March.

“We were excited to get this game under our belt, to get challenged,” Cretens said. “Obviously, we never want to lose, but we feel a little bit more comfortable now getting that one loss out of the way and taking the pressure off of us.”

Cretens also acknowledged that the Braves entered Tuesday’s game with a bit of uneasiness.

“A lot of our girls were a little bit too nervous and got in their heads a little bit too much,” Cretens revealed. “We were prepared, we were 11-0, we belong here. They just didn’t trust themselves, believe in themselves. They talked (after the game) about how they’re not going to let that happen again.”

Takeaways

Negaunee: With the departure of reigning Miss U.P. Basketball Ella Mason to graduation a question loomed as to who would take over as the go-to scoring option. Aubrey Johnson and Gretel Johnson filled that void on Tuesday. The tandem knocked down all six of the Miners’ 3-point baskets and combined to net 32 of their 45 points.

Gladstone: For the first time this season the Braves suffered a loss on a night where many things went wrong, including 14 first half turnovers. Gladstone must recover fast with road games against No. 4 Calumet and reigning Division 4 state champion Ishpeming up next.

Next games

Negaunee: Idle until Feb. 4 when it hosts Calumet

Gladstone: Hits the road to face No. 4 Calumet at 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Box score

Negaunee 14 10 9 12 — 45

Gladstone 5 8 10 5 — 28

Negaunee — P. O’Donnell 2, Aubrey Johnson 15, Gretel Johnson 17, Waterman 3, Park 2, Perkul 3, C. O’Donnell 3; FT: 9-20; Fouls: 18; Fouled out: Waterman; 3-point baskets: A. Johnson 3, G. Johnson 3

Gladstone — Blowers 2, Hanson 4, Pankonien 4, Ostlund 3, Reynolds 2, Johnson 13; FT: 8-13; Fouls: 21; 3-point baskets: Pankonien 1, Ostlund 1