Braves Overwhelm Vikings In Gladstone East, 74-69

SAULT STE. MARIE---Sure, this was still the Upper Peninsula.

It was, however, Blue Devil Country, and it was 170 miles away from home.

But inside the Sault Ste. Marie High School Gym Monday night, the Gladstone community made itself at home. And the Purple-and-White-clad fans...both young and old...chanted, screamed, hollered, clapped, and waved as the Braves basketball team posted a 74-69 win over the Grayling Vikings in the Class B regional semifinal game.

It was not only a tournament atmosphere. It was an atmosphere that felt very much like it would have felt had this important game been played inside the Gladstone Gym.

"I thought it was a lot of fun," Gladstone Coach Clayton Castor said. "I thought our kids did a great job of staying the course, and staying composed. "You've gopt to give so much credit to Andy Jacques (Athletic Director) and Brady Downey (Principal) to immediately to commit to having fan buses. What a great atmosphere."

Indeed, there was not one, but two, buses full of students in attendance. And that doesn't include all of the other people who drove to the Sault to watch the game.

"It was awesome," Braves senior Jack Stephenson said. "I love all the students who came to support us. We're the best school ever!"

"The fan support is great," Braves junior Brad Spindler added. "Just awesome."

The game was a wild one, with both teams making eleven three-point baskets. The Braves hit six of them in the first quarter to take a 20-13 lead, but Grayling came out on fire early in the third quarter with four triples to take a 42-38 lead.

Gladstone found its stroke again later in the third quarter as Rudy Peterson and Stephenson made back-to-back three-pointers.

That helped to complete an 18-7 spurt that gave the Braves a 56-49 lead.

Grayling's 6-foot-8 senior, Troy Summers, who will play at Northern Michigan University in the fall, got off to a strong start, scoring five early points. But he got two early fouls and had to sit, and then picked up a third foul in the third quarter and had to sit again. Summers ended up with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Grayling's other tower, 6-foot-3 Spencer White, scored 19 points, but only five of those points came in the second half.

While the Braves centered their defense on stopping Summers and White, it did leave the perimeter open, and the Vikings took advantage with Trey Moffot scoring 16 points on five triples and one free throw. The Braves, however, had a bit more.

Spindler and Reece Castor both scored 22 points to lead Gladstone. Rudy Peterson added 13 points on four triples and a free throw. Stephenson chipped in eight points.

"That's the greatest feeling in the world right there," Stephenson said. "A nice regional 'dub'. Nothing better!"

Gladstone improved to 18-5 on the season while Grayling finished its year at 18-6.

UP NEXT---The Braves head downstate on Wednesday to take on the Ludington Orioles (22-2) in the Class B regional championship game. Ludington beat Clare, 62-45, Monday night in the other semifinal contest. Game time is 7:00, and it will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and WMXG-FM (106.3), and at www.rrnsports.com.

Any chance the Braves fans will turn the Grayling Gym into "Gladstone South"?

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Ben Deatrick, and to listen to post-game interviews with Spindler, Peterson, Stephenson, and Coach Castor.