Marquette Overwhelms Braves; Captures GNC Title

MARQUETTE---It was several years ago when the Gladstone High School boys basketball team shocked the world, and beat the heavily-favored Marquette Redmen on their home court, 28-27. Johnny Cretens' three at the buzzer was the game-winner.

Well, fast-forward to Tuesday night, and the Braves were again the underdogs against the top-ranked Redmen.

And while Gladstone Coach Dale Hongisto didn't hold the ball as much as he did on that previous night, he did try to keep the tempo slow.

But this time, Marquette's 6-foot-10-inch center, Vejas Grazulis, made sure that history would not repeat itself. He scored nine straight points in the third quarter to help the Redmen pull away for a 46-24 victory. With the win, Marquette clinched another GNC conference championship trophy.

The Braves did not score a point in the entire first quarter.

Marquette's Beauchamp Gets Steal, Basket

And Brett Beauchamp scored seven points from the perimeter to give Marquette a 9-0 lead after the first quarter. Hunter Botruff's three-pointer 55 seconds into the second quarter finally put the Braves on the board.

Marquette led, 19-10, at the half, as each team scored ten points in the second quarter.

Gladstone managed to close to within five points at 21-16 in the third quarter, as Andy Olesak scored baskets on back-to-back possessions. But the Braves could get no closer, as the Redmen dumped the ball to Grazulis on the baseline.

The Northern Michigan University recruit scored four baskets and a couple of free throws in the third quarter run. Grazulis scored 21 points and had nine rebounds.

Marquette led, 31-19, after three quarters, and put the game away early in the fourth quarter as the Braves scored only five points in the final eight minutes of the game.

Gladstone (7-6) did not have a player score in double figures. Wells had the most points (6).

The Braves have two more games this week.

Gladstone travels to Kingsford Thursday night, and then Sault Ste. Marie comes to town Saturday for a make-up game. Saturday's game against the Soo will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. Saturday's tip-off is set for approximately 3:00 in Gladstone (the JV game starts at 1:00).

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from Tuesday night's game.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/19	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	54 - 40 (W)	1-0

12/22	7:15 PM	Mid Peninsula Wolverines	62 - 47 (W)	2-0

1/3	3:00 PM	at St. Ignace Saints	64 - 62 (W)	3-0

1/8	7:30 PM	at Mid Peninsula Wolverines	45 - 41 (W)	4-0

1/10	3:00 PM	Marquette Redmen	27 - 48 (L)	4-1

1/12	7:46 PM	at Ishpeming Hematites	51 - 61 (L)	4-2

1/13	7:45 PM	at Rapid River Rockets	56 - 29 (W)	5-2

1/15	7:15 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	45 - 57 (L)	5-3

1/20	7:15 PM	Gwinn Model Towners	53 - 58 (L)	5-4

1/23	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	48 - 30 (W)	6-4

1/27	7:15 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	46 - 63 (L)	6-5

2/2	7:15 PM	Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	60 - 50 (W)	7-5

2/10	7:20 PM	at Marquette Redmen	24 - 46 (L)	7-6

2/12	8:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	48 - 58 (L)	7-7

2/17	7:15 PM	Negaunee Miners	45 - 55 (L)	7-8

2/20	7:15 PM	Menominee Maroons	43 - 49 (L)	7-9

2/23	7:30 PM	at Westwood Patriots	54 - 60 (L)	7-10

2/27	7:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	51 - 50 (W)	8-10

3/3	7:30 PM	at Manistique Emeralds	44 - 54 (L)	8-11

3/5	7:15 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	30 - 44 (L)	8-12

3/11	7:00 PM	Menominee Maroons	52 - 50 (W)	9-12

3/13	7:00 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	30 - 32 (L)	9-13