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Ex-Stephenson star Kelsey (Johnson) Stevens leads Got Milk of Daggett to Gold Medal Tournament basketball women’s title

HERMANSVILLE — Stephenson High School and Maranatha Baptist University graduate Kelsey (Johnson) Stevens came through in the clutch as Daggett Got Milk squeezed past Perronville Bloniarz Farms in a 59-57 overtime thriller here Sunday night at the 83rd annual Gold Medal Classic basketball tournament.

Stevens sank a layup and free throw with 3.2 seconds left in OT, enabling Got Milk to secure the women’s title.

“They were playing me pretty tight,” she said. “I knew I had to go out strong. I was thinking to myself ‘Don’t miss the free throw. If you do, get the rebound.’ I think we played pretty well as a team.”

Got Milk led 41-31 following a turnaround jump shot from the left baseline by Stevens with sightly more than six minutes left in regulation.

Bloniarz tied the contest 47-47 with three seconds remaining in regulation and took a 56-53 lead on a jumper from the left wing by Kylie Bloniarz with 84 seconds left in the extra period.

“We got a little tired and lazy on defense,” said Stevens, who scored 26 points and was named the tournament’s Outstanding Player in the women’s division. “Kudos to their team. They came back to force overtime.”

Carney-Nadeau senior Tessa Wagner added 13 points, while Maisy Johnson had 10.

“This is definitely a lot rougher than high school,” said Wagner, recently named to the All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team. “You’re playing with more experienced players, and you don’t get many fouls. This is also a faster game, which makes it more of a fun game. It feels real good to win this.”

Kylie Bloniarz hit 27 points and Tiffany Wangerin had 12 for Bloniarz Farms.

Stevens scored 17 points, and Wagner hit 11 in a 55-41 conquest of Bloniarz Farms earlier Sunday. Cara Zawacki tossed in 13, and Bay College assistant coach Paige Welch finished with 11 for Bloniarz.

Wagner scored 18 points, and Hope Matthews added 10, leading Got Milk past Hermansville BAE Message 62-47 Saturday. Andie Arsenault hit 16, and Brooke Manor had 10 for BAO.

Stevens’ 18 points was enough to lead Got Milk past Kingsford Pro Media 50-41 later Saturday. Raike Elhkart added 13, while Lindsey Kajinski paced Pro Media with 13.

Bloniarz reached the title contest by eliminating BAO Message 63-49 Sunday.

Zawacki led the way with 20 points. Welch scored 14, and Kylie Bloniarz had 10. Bree Arsenault paced BAO with 15. Andie Arsenault and Julianne Wickstrom had 14 each.

St. Ignace senior Ally Schultz scored nine points, leading Bloniarz past Carney MFXE 43-25 in Saturday’s opener.

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