Manistique junior Maya Carlson (10) attempts to get a layup past a charging Gladstone junior Lillie Johnson (21) during a game on Jan. 10, 2025 at Manistique High School. Johnson, who finished with 21 points, blocked this layup attempt. (“The Bog Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

MANISTIQUE — A 9-0 start to any season is a reason to celebrate.

No. 2 Gladstone girls’ basketball celebrated that accomplishment on Friday. Behind relentless defensive pressure and contributions from multiple scoring threats the Braves earned a 55-20 road win over Manistique.

“We did exactly what we needed to do in the first half,” Gladstone coach Andy Cretens said. “We did everything right defensively in the first half. We just did a lot of good things. We came and executed.”

The Braves jumped on the Emeralds often in the first half. In fact, the purple and white claimed the game’s first 34 points.

The Emeralds got their first basket when senior Elena Alfonso knocked down a layup after 13:04 of game clock burned away. Junior Maya Carlson split a pair of free throws with 31.1 seconds until intermission. It was the only chunk of offense the Emeralds produced, who entered intermission down 46-3.

“It’s frustrating,” Emeralds coach Dan Giles said. “We practice all these things, all these situations, and then get out here and they’re like deer in the headlights. I thought we had a reasonably good chance to be competitive, and then it was just terrible.”

The Braves got 17 points from junior Lillie Johnson, eight points from senior Mayce Hanson and junior Addy Blowers and seven points from sophomore Adele Ostlund. Gladstone also earned 11 points off nine Manistique first quarter turnovers. “Everyone that follows us knows that we rely on our defense, and we fuel off our defense, and we just did everything the way that we wanted to do it,” Cretens said. “We executed as a team. Obviously, the second half we didn’t do those things, and they were able to get some open looks and stuff like that. But in the first half, we executed really well defensively.”

Despite the loss and massive early hole, Friday’s loss served as a learning opportunity for Manistique, who played its sixth game of the season. The Emeralds still have to play No. 1 Negaunee and Ishpeming twice this season, as well as one more game with Gladstone.

“I think it is a good reality check, because we just got done playing Engadine, who we pounded in a similar fashion the other night,” Giles said. “I think (we) had a false sense of comfort about what it’s going to look like when we play good teams. I thought we’d be better at some of the things we were doing, and the hustle on the Gladstone side was constant.”

The Braves stay on the road to face Marquette at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Emeralds host Munising at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Box score

Gladstone 25 21 5 4 — 55

Manistique 0 3 7 10 — 20

Gladstone — Blowers 10, Hanson 8, Pankonien 4, Ostlund 7, Reynolds 4, Johnson 21, Wetthuhn 1; FT: 7-10; Fouls: 5; 3-point baskets: Blowers 2, Hanson 2

Manistique — M. Carlson 5, K. Carlson 9, Alfonso 2, Spettel 2, Brewster 2; FT: 1-2; Fouls: 10; 3-point baskets: K. Carlson 1