HOUGHTON LAKE, Mich. — For the first time since 2012, Gladstone girls basketball gets to call itself a regional champion.

Behind a dominating defensive showing and 28 points from junior phenom Lillie Johnson led the Braves to a 49-31 Division 2 regional championship win over Fremont Tuesday at Houghton Lake High School.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” Braves senior Mayce Hanson said. “We knew they were very physical. We knew we just had to fight back as well as we could. Obviously it paid off.”

The Braves face Frankenmuth in the state quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The game is currently scheduled to be played at Shepherd High School.

“It’s starting to feel like we belong here,” Hanson said. “I think we’re starting to prove that slowly.”

Gladstone entered Wednesday’s regional title game fresh off the heels of a red-hot shooting performance, draining 10 3-pointers in a 68-36 semifinal win over Sault Ste. Marie on Monday. The first half of Wednesday’s regional title game was not the same. In fact, Wednesday’s start was the exact opposite — the Braves were 0-of-18 from 3-point range in the game’s first 16 minutes.

And it wasn’t for a lack of effort. The Packers attacked the Braves with their patented diamond press and 2-3 zone defense.

The Braves did break free of the initial first wave of in your face pressure the diamond press provided. Sharp,cross-court passes were connecting.

But 3-point shots weren’t falling. Shots were as stubborn as a toddler making its case for an ice cream cone.

But defensively, the Braves denied the Packers of any breathing space. Gladstone’s intense, in-your-face man-to-man defense proved to be too much. The Packers were bottled to 16 first half points.

And despite a putrid shooting performance, the Braves led 22-16 at the half.

“We kept relying on our defense,” Braves coach Andy Cretens said. “Defensive rebounding was key when we weren’t hitting shots. Then we did a great job moving the ball when we needed to.”

Then Johnson connected from downtown for the Braves first successful 3-point shot of the game. She didn’t stop there. Just like the third quarter against Sault Ste. Marie Johnson took over the game once again.

She netted 14 of her 29 points in the third quarter. And with a triple from sophomore Eva Pankonien and a free throw from junior Addy Blowers put the Braves ahead 41-22 entering the fourth quarter.

“She took it to another level,” Cretens said of Johnson. “We as coaches have seen that she has another gear. Other people think that there’s no way she has another gear. She showed that she has another gear.”

For the 18th time this season, the Braves held their opponent to under 40 points. And with the win, the Braves magical underdog run stays alive for at least six more days.

“We weren’t suppose to get out of our districts  losing to Negaunee twice. They were suppose to beat us in the district (title game),” Cretens said, “We haven’t done this in 13 years. We just weren’t picked to do it. This feels good.”

Box score

Gladstone 11 11 19 8 — 49

Fremont 10 6 6 9 — 31

Gladstone — Blowers 4, Hanson 2, Pankonien 3, Ostlund 4, Reynolds 5, Johnson 28, Wetthuhn 2; FT: 8-12; Fouls: 20; 3-point baskets: Johnson 2, Pankonien 1

Fremont — Evans 2, Johnson 2, Shriver 1, Clemence 8, DeKuiper 15, Norris 2, Noordyk 1; FT: 8-16; Fouls: 17; Fouled out: Chase; 3-point baskets: Clemence 2