Kingsford senior Gavin Grondin (20) attempts a contested layup during a Great Northern Conference game against Gladstone on Thursday at Gladstone High School. (Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press photo)

GLADSTONE — Kingsford boys’ basketball proved why it’s the No. 2 team in the U.P. with a 62-34 Great Northern Conference win over Gladstone on Thursday.

“We knew coming in that (Kingsford) was going to bring energy and play fast. Our kids needed to see that,” Braves coach Jake Kiesby said. “Kingsford sets a standard on how to be successful because they’ve been successful for the past few years. You can watch film, but the only way to experience it is to see it. We saw it firsthand tonight.”

The Flivvers (9-1, 2-1 GNC) claimed the game’s first nine points and claimed a 21-3 lead after eight minutes of play. Senior Gavin Grondin and junior Jett Buckley were responsible for all 21 of Kingsford’s points.

Kingsford kept rolling, closing the first half with a 39-11 lead entering the locker room. Grondin knocked down 15 of his game-best 25 points in the first half.

“We’ve been working on defending people in the half court with a lot of pressure and denying passes away,” Olsen said. “That gave Gladstone a lot of problems. It’s been giving pretty much everyone problems other than Marquette.

“Our defense led to offense, and that’s what got us a little bit of a lead and extended it.”

Olsen was quick to point out the importance of Thursday’s win. If the Flivvers want a chance to claim at least a share of the GNC title they have to run the table. And it started with the win on Thursday.

“We have to go on the road and take care of business, and I thought we did that tonight,” Olsen said. “Every road game in the GNC is tough. You have to come out with the mindset of wanting to win.”

While the No. 2 Flivvers are eying a GNC title and another deep postseason run, Gladstone (2-8, 0-3) has different goals. The young Braves squad continues their quest for growth and development throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Kiesby had one particular goal before the game. It was written out on the whiteboard before tip-off: match the energy.

“We knew there were X’s and O’s, we knew we had to do things to (contain) Grondin and their other guards, and they’re great shooters,” Kiesby explained. “But we can’t get to that point until these guys learn how to compete until they learn to bring energy. Our main goal tonight was to compete. We knew what Kingsford was going to do. Are we going to match that or not?”

The Braves host Gwinn on Tuesday. The No. 2 Flivvers play host to the all too familiar Iron Mountain Mountaineers on Tuesday night.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” said Olsen, an Iron Mountain graduate. “I wish every kid could play in a game where the communities come out like they do for this game. It’s a packed environment, and the gym is loud. I’m fortunate to have played in it and now fortunate to coach in it.”

NORDICS 55, COUGARS 43

EBEN JUNCTION — Junior Brady Jungwirth connected on eight 3-pointers and led the North Dickinson boys varsity basketball team to a 55-43 non-conference win over Superior Central (3-6, 0-0) in Eben Junction on Thursday.

“Brady Jungwirth had an unbelievable game, shooting the ball,” Nordics head coach Chris Mattson said. “He got about as hot as I’ve ever seen a kid in the second quarter. He hit four threes in the second quarter, in a span of about two-or-three minutes. The boys were engaged and trying to get him the ball. … Overall, I thought we played unselfishly and did what we needed to to win.”

The Nordics (9-2, 2-0) have won five consecutive games.

Jungwirth led all scorers in the contest with 24 points while racking up five steals. He made three 3-pointers in the first quarter and four in the second. Trenton Kramer also had 10 points in the first half, and North Dickinson led 34-15 at halftime.

Spencer Kramer and Ty King each scored six second-half points and the Nordics breezed to the win.

North Dickinson received contributions from Trenton Kramer (14 points, 8 rebounds), Spencer Kramer (9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), King (6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals) and Colten Roberts (2 points).

The Nordics welcome Norway to town on Monday.

TROJANS 53, ESKYMOS 40

CRYSTAL FALLS — After picking up its first loss of the 2024-25 season, the Forest Park boys varsity basketball team, ranked No. 1 in Division 4 according to the latest UPSSA U.P. Poll, bounced back on Thursday against Escanaba.

The Trojans (8-1, 0-0) rallied from behind in the second quarter and rolled to a 53-40 non-conference win over the Eskymos (6-7, 1-3) in Crystal Falls.

Escanaba jumped out to a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. However, the Trojans bounced back in the second, out scoring the Eskymos, 14-5 in the frame.

Forest Park held a 21-15 lead at halftime.

The Trojans didn’t let up in the third quarter and poured in 21 points in the frame. Their lead was up to 42-27.

The Eskymos turned the tables in the fourth, out scoring Forest Park by one point. But, it was too little too late and the Trojans easily secured the win.

Forest Park junior Vic Giuliani led all scorers in the contest with 18 points. He also racked up nine rebounds and two assists.

The Trojans also received contributions from Gabe Quevedo (5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Trent Kannich (1 point), Dax Huuki (10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Matthew Showers (2 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Aiden Waldo (2 rebounds, 1 assist) and Kevin Giuliani (17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal).

Forest Park is back in action on Monday at home against Bark River-Harris while Escanba heads to Ishpeming on Tuesday to face Westwood.

Daily News sports editor Sean Chase contributed to this report.