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Khora Swanson leads Ishpeming Hematites’ girls basketball team in Gladstone

Ishpeming’s Khora Swanson, center, drives between Gladstone defenders Tasi Martinez, left, and Kaitlyn Hardwick on Monday at the Braves’ gym. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Mike Mattson)

GLADSTONE — The Ishpeming girls basketball team warmed up for next week’s Class C district tournament with a solid 57-41 nonconference win Monday at Gladstone.

Khora Swanson scored 24 points as the Hematites led from start to finish.

“We were about to get a bigger lead, but I thought Gladstone did a good job of not letting us extend the lead,” Ishpeming coach Ryan Reichel said. “They did a good job of making us work on the defensive end. I thought in the fourth quarter we did some good things and the defense got us going.”

Swanson did her part on defense, too, playing a key role in limiting Gladstone guard Alyssa Polley to three points. Senior Leigha Woelffer sparked the Braves with 21 points and four steals.

“We held them to 41 points, but I thought we could have done a better job on Woelffer,” Reichel said. “She’s a good player.

“We did some nice things to wear down Polley. Khora did a nice job on her. Her effective defense got her going on offense.”

Swanson made all 10 of her free throws as the Hematites hit 15 of 23 for the game.

Ishpeming (15-3) led 17-9 after one quarter and relied on Swanson’s 17 points in the first half to take a 28-21 lead at intermission. The Braves, who were down by 13 points in the first half, had an 8-0 run in the second quarter to pull within 25-20.

Gladstone (5-13) hurt itself by shooting just 17 of 60 from the field for 28 percent, making only 6 of 15 free throws and committing 21 turnovers, 15 of those in the first half.

“We had too many turnovers in the first half,” said Gladstone coach Eric Linden, whose team trailed 44-31 entering the fourth quarter. “We did a better job in the second half, but we dug ourselves a hole.

“Ishpeming is a strong defensive team. They are 15-3 for a reason. But we have to make our free throws.”

Woelffer was the lone Braves’ player to score in double figures. Kaitlyn Hardwick grabbed eight rebounds.

Marissa Maino chipped in with 13 points for the Hematites, who have multiple scoring options.

“Maino scored 26 points in our last game,” Reichel said. “We have a balanced scoring attack, so we are tougher to guard.”

Ishpeming won the JV game, 46-25.

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