Olesak Dominates As Braves Post Win In Kingsford

KINGSFORD---The kid was everywhere. It seemed like it, anyway.

It seemed like everywhere you looked on the basketball court Thursday night as the Gladstone Braves faced the Kingsford Flivvers, Braves junior Andy Olesak was in on the play. He was blocking shots. Scoring from underneath the basket.

Olesak was getting rebounds in traffic. He was drawing fouls.

The 6-foot-4 Olesak had a career night as the Braves beat the Flivvers, 61-52, to earn their first Great Northern Conference victory.

Olesak had 21 points, seven rebounds, and blocked six shots as he turned in his best performance in a Gladstone uniform.

"I felt great," Olesak said. "We had a lot of confidence at the beginning of the game. We were ready to go. We've been working a lot in practice on filling the gaps (offensively) and we're doing a better job of looking for open spots. It's good to get a good win here."

Gladstone Coach Dale Hongisto was obviously happy with Olesak's performance.

Andy Olesak scores in fourth quarter

"He stepped up at the right time," Hongisto said. "He was 10 of 13 from the field. That was beautiful. I'm extremely pleased. This was a Great Northern Conference win on the road. We needed a win badly."

Jared Hunter scored 13 points and Tyler Wells added 11 as the Braves improved to 3-3 on the season, 1-2 in the Great Northern Conference.

Dan Harrington scored 22 points to lead the Flivvers, who fell to 1-4. Kingsford played Thursday night's game after not having a game for the previous 23 days.

The teams played a fast-paced first half, with Gladstone leading, 16-13, after the first quarter.

Then Gladstone went into a dry spell in the second quarter, scoring just two points in the first five minutes of the period.

Kingsford didn't do much better, though, and the Braves were able to take a 24-22 lead into the halftime locker room.

"We were up two at halftime and we had played poorly," Hongisto said. "We had eight turnovers, and six of them were totally unforced. At halftime, I said that if we take better care of the ball, and we rebound a little better, we're going to win."

Kingsford scored five straight points to take a the lead early in the third quarter, but the Braves quickly responded as Hunter nailed back-to-back three-point baskets.

Jared Hunter three-pointer.

"Those were absolutely huge," Hongisto said. "He had nothing going in the first half. We had a little talk at halftime."

Later, with Gladstone leading, 38-34, Olesak made one of the game's biggest plays. He made a defensive steal, drove the other way, posted up, and scored a basket while being fouled. He drained the foul shot, and the Braves had a 41-34 lead.

Gladstone built an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, and then maintained that lead by making enough free throws as the Flivvers hoisted up three-pointers that wouldn't fall.

Justin Jurek made seven free throws in the final three minutes to ice the game.

"I looked up at the scoreboard and he (Jurek) had no points, but it felt like he controlled the game," Hongisto said. "He had seven assists, and he's better on the line now. Gus just controlled the game. He facilitated. It felt like he had 25 points."

Hongisto says that his team is still a work in progress, but there is a lot of potential.

"They're listening and we're getting better," Hongisto said. "Sixty-one points is not bad. There was a stretch in the first half where we missed five bunnies in a row. But the kids stayed the course. We made a couple of little adjustments at halftime."

For Olesak, it was a night to remember. When's the last time he had such a big game?

"Ah, it's been a while," Olesak grinned. "It just feels good to get out there and have a good game. It means a lot, coming in as a junior and being able to start. You know, I think it's an honor. We're all working hard. We're starting to develop as a team."

Andy Olesak post-game interview.

Gladstone's next game is scheduled for next Tuesday night in Gwinn.

There are two schedule changes for the Braves basketball team. The home game against Big Bay deNoc scheduled for January 28th has been switched to January 27th. And the game that was set for last weekend against St. Ignace that was snowed out will now be played on the night of Wednesday, February 19th.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos taken by Lori Jurek, videos taken by Peyton Jurek, and to hear radio replays and post-game interviews with Andy Olesak and Coach Dale Hongisto.

Gladstone's Tyler Wells (right) drives on Kingsford's Lucas Jennings Thursday night. (Lori Jurek photo)

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/12	7:30 PM	at Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	55 - 56 (L)	0-1

12/17	7:20 PM	at Marquette Redmen	33 - 60 (L)	0-2

12/20	7:15 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	44 - 67 (L)	0-3

12/23	7:30 PM	at Mid Peninsula Wolverines	71 - 44 (W)	1-3

12/30	5:30 PM	Ishpeming Hematites	44 - 68 (L)	1-4

1/2	7:30 PM	Mid Peninsula Wolverines	56 - 48 (W)	2-4

1/9	8:00 PM	at Kingsford Flivvers	61 - 52 (W)	3-4

1/14	7:30 PM	at Gwinn Model Towners	49 - 47 (W)	4-4

1/17	7:30 PM	Menominee Maroons	52 - 54 (L)	4-5

1/21	7:30 PM	at Ishpeming Hematites	47 - 57 (L)	4-6

1/24	7:30 PM	at Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	PPD - PPD (T)	PPD

1/29	7:00 PM	Big Bay deNoc Black Bears	56 - 41 (W)	5-6

2/4	7:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	39 - 70 (L)	5-7

2/7	7:15 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	36 - 51 (L)	5-8

2/11	7:30 PM	at Negaunee Miners	57 - 71 (L)	5-9

2/14	8:00 PM	at Menominee Maroons	52 - 47 (W)	6-9

2/17	7:15 PM	Westwood Patriots	63 - 44 (W)	7-9

2/19	6:30 PM	St. Ignace Saints	52 - 59 (L)	7-10

2/21	7:30 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	52 - 58 (L)	7-11

2/25	7:30 PM	Manistique Emeralds	60 - 41 (W)	8-11

3/5	7:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	48 - 60 (L)	8-12