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Lead evaporates: Pressure defense, free throw prowess gets Gladstone Braves boys basketball team comeback win at Westwood

Westwood’s Ethan Burke, front, attempts a layup as Gladstone’s Jack Stephenson goes for a block on Monday night at the Patriots’ gym. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

ISHPEMING — A full-court press and a lot of trips to the free-throw line helped Gladstone pull off a 59-51 comeback victory at Westwood High School in a boys basketball game played Monday night.

The Patriots led through most of the first three quarters, including 12-9 after one, 26-15 at halftime and 39-33 after three quarters.

“We did a good job of defending people and not giving up the easy basket,” WHS coach Chad Hewitt said about the first three periods. “(Gladstone) is really long and all of them can shoot.”

In the fourth, though, the Braves employed a full-court pressure defense.

“We didn’t really turn the ball over too many times, but they hurried us into shots that we normally don’t take,” Hewitt said.

Gladstone scored 26 points in the quarter, erasing a six-point deficit at the start of the period with about two minutes to go.

It didn’t hurt that the Braves were a perfect 15 of 15 at the line in the fourth while Westwood was only 1 of 4, with several misses being the front end of 1-and-1 situations.

“But our kids played extremely hard for all 32 minutes,” Hewitt said.

Pats’ junior center David Delarye was especially impressive with game-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds.

“David’s a work in progress, the only way he knows how to play is extremely hard,” Hewitt said. “He’s been improving by leaps and bounds.”

Senior teammate Austin Pierpont added 11 points, while Gladstone was paced by Brad Spindler with 20 points.

The Braves also won the JV game, 44-32.

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Escanaba 80, Manistique 58

At Manistique, Escanaba won its third straight game by vaulting to a 25-14 lead after one quarter, then using its bench to keep everyone fresh for tonight’s game at home against Gwinn.

“We got out and pushed the ball and attacked the basket,” Escanaba coach Tracy Hudson said.

The Eskymos’ Tyler Willette scored 27 points on 10-of-10 shooting from the field while adding eight steals.

Manistique coach Ed Marietti said the 11-7 Eskymos “find Willette open and (Tyler) Robinette made some great passes underneath.”

Darien Nichols had 30 points for the Emeralds (1-17), who were down two starters, Jake Arnold due to the flu and Logan McPhail because of injury.

The Eskymos won the JV game, 71-57.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Steve Brownlee with contributions from the Escanaba Daily Press. Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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