Click the thubnails to hear comments from player of the game, Gabe Sadler, and from Coaches Jake Kiesby and Tom Gereau. Also click to see video highlights, and to see photos.

GLADSTONE---The third time was the charm for the Gladstone Braves against the Escanaba Eskymos Monday night in boys high school basketball.

After losing both regular season games to their rivals, and falling behind again in this district tournament game, the Braves got hot late to beat the Eskymos 52-47.

Gladstone sophomore Gabe Sadler scored eleven of his 15 points in the final three minutes of the game to lift the Braves to the playoff win. That came after the Gladstone offense, which had only twelve points in the entire first half and trailed, 20-12, at halftime, suddenly caught fire from three-point land late in the third quarter.

Escanaba was in control, leading, 36-28, before Braves freshman Alex Prins nailed back-to-back triples. Senior Owen Gereau, the son of Eskymo Head Coach Tom Gereau, knocked down a triple of his own during that run as Gladstone took the lead.

Then, down the stretch, as the Eksymos forced up shots that wouldn't fall, the Braves found success from an unlikely source.

As the Eskymo defense concentrated on slowing down the Braves' perimeter shooting, Sadler took advantage driving to the rim. He scored three times from in close, and knocked down five free throws, as the Braves student section howled its approval.

Lonnie Davey led the Braves with 20 points, although the Eskymos did a nice job on him for long stretches of the game. Escanaba led, 15-8, after one quarter, as sophomore Braden Cooper scored seven early points. Davey knocked down a pair of triples, but the Braves went into the locker room having made zero two-point baskets in the entire first half.

Still, the Braves were still in striking distance because the Eskymos couldn't convert consistently on offense, with a couple of missed lay-ups that came back to haunt them.

Add to that the fact that the Escanaba two big men, Cody Noel and Javon Stevenson, were both out due to injuries, you could see that the Eskymos were not able to do what they normally do. It was good enough in those two regular season wins. Not enough, though, in the playoffs against a hungry rival that was at full strength.

Sadler put the game away by making five of six free throw attempts in the final minute, and he finished with 15 points.

Escanaba ended its season with a 9-14 record. Gkadstone advances to the district semifinal, where the Braves will play the Kingsford Flivvers Wednesday nigght. Game time is 6:00 ET from the Gladstone gym. It will be broadcast live on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.