Gladstone, MI – February 5th, 2019 – Several schools were closed in Ishpeming, but the game between the Ishpeming Hematites girls basketball team and the Gladstone Braves was still on. Luke and Bob made the journey with the team and brought the game to you live on 98.3 WRUP and online at WRUP.com!
After a great JV game for the Ishpeming Hematites, the Varsity team looked to carry that energy into their game. The game started out quickly, with the ball moving back and forth across the court multiple times early in the quarter. Ishpeming was having some trouble with Gladstone’s speed, but they were always close. As the first quarter began to draw to a close, the Hematites were only one basket behind the Braves, and there was still plenty of game left.
First Quarter Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 9
Gladstone Braves: 11
It was a tightly-contested first quarter, and the Ishpeming Hematites looked to over take the Braves before the second half. Points were traded across the court, but Gladstone managed to stay ahead of Ishpeming for most of the early minutes in the second. The Braves started to pile on the points while time wound down in the first half, and Gladstone would hold a healthy lead for the second half.
First Half Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 22
Gladstone Braves: 27
Each quarter seemed to mirror each other, and the Ishpeming Hematites stayed close to Gladstone, but were unable to take the lead earlier in the game. Despite trailing for much of the game, the Hematites were always on the heels of the Braves, seeming to crawl their way back from some tough situations. Threes were falling left and right for Ishpeming, and each big basket increased the fire under the Hematites.
Third Quarter Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 34
Gladstone Braves: 39
Action in the fourth quarter was noticeably slower than the other three quarters, however, the Ishpeming Hematites were determined to fight their way back in front of Gladstone. Ishpeming had to manage the clock with incredible precision in order to maximize their time in possession of the ball. They were running out of timeouts as the final minute of the game approached, and with 1:10 left, the Hematites trailed by only two baskets. With just over :30 seconds, Ishpeming trailed by only two points, and there was plenty of time left to take the lead. Emma Poirier drained another three-pointer for Ishpeming, and that gave them their first lead of the game at 47-45. The Braves added a single free throw to their total, and that narrowed their deficit to only one point with ten seconds left in the game.
Final Game Score
Ishpeming Hematites: 47
Gladstone Braves: 46