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Gremlins’ season ends in Gladstone

GLADSTONE — On a bitterly cold day, things were heating up inside the Gladstone gym as two teams battled it out in a Division 2 district semifinal here Wednesday. The Gladstone girls’ basketball team came back in the second half to secure a win over the Houghton Gremlins 61-42.

The Braves came out of the locker room for the third quarter down 29-28. Gladstone’s first half was characterized by sloppy play that led to turnovers for the Gremlins to capitalize on.

Megan Crow notched the first points of the third period for Gladstone (12-9) and gave them the lead, 30-29.

An answering shot by Houghton’s Maryellen Trewhella put them back on top 31-30 with 6:23 left in the frame.

Gladstone amped up its game to go on a 15-4 run for the rest of the quarter. The momentum shift toward the Braves threw the Gremlins off their game. They started taking off-balance shots from the outside that led to rebound trouble.

Crow was more comfortable under the basket, and the passes from her teammates were more well executed. She contributed 11 of 17 points for the frame.

Gladstone led 45-36 at the end of the third quarter, and with the change of momentum, it was enough to seal the game.

“We got into our groove,” Crow said. “The girls were hitting their shots, and they were giving me the ball with such great passes. We were gelling out there, and it was a great feeling in a district game.”

Cassie Ryynanen made the first basket of the game for Houghton just 30 seconds in to the quarter.

Houghton (2-19) took the lead and stayed in front until Crow hit a layup with less than two minutes left to make it 9-8. The Braves scored again in the last minute but fouled Ryynanen, who sank two free throws to trim their deficit to 11-10. A basket from Trewhella with 24 seconds left finished off the quarter with the Gremlins leading 12-11.

The Braves pulled ahead early in the second quarter. However, thanks to triples from Josie Connors and Ryynanen, the Gremlins tied it at 20 with 3:30 left in the half.

Maddie Ahlgren put Gladstone ahead 23-20 about 10 seconds later with a trey of her own. The Gremlins went on a 9-0 run to lead 29-23 with 30 seconds remaining.

Houghton 12 17 7 6 — 42

Gladstone 11 17 17 16 — 61

HHS: Ryynanen 13, Trewhella 9, Connors 7, L. Svoke 7, Markham 4. FT: 5-8; F: 9; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Ryynanen 3, Trewhella 1, Connors 1.

GHS: Crow 23, Ahlgren 18, Taelor Zeise 7, Torie Zeise 4, LaFave 4, Servant 3, Larson 2. FT: 5-11; F: 13; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Ahlgren 3, Taelor Zeise 1.

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