Sports

A team-based victory, focused on fundamentals, pushed the Munising Mustangs past the Marine City Cardinal Mooney Cardinals 54-44 at the MHSAA Division 4 Semifinals on Thursday, March 23. Munising wasted no time getting on the board as Trevor Nolan popped a three pointer just 18 seconds into the contest.

The Munising Mustangs will have some familiarity when heading down to East Lansing. Head Coach Terry Kienitz played in the 1994 state finals with Superior Central. Kane Nebel attended basketball camps at MSU. Many of the players and staff have a connection or two to the state semifinals and finals venue.

To return to the finals, Tri Unity Christian had to go through another coastal town with a public school, the Frankfort Panthers. The Defenders led throughout, defeating the Panthers 54-37.

The trophy was presented on the floor of the Breslin Center in East Lansing, but the 2023 MHSAA Division 4 boys basketball championship was won in a Best Western in Okemos. In room 156 — the hotel room for Munising Assistant Coach Chris Prunick — coaches, alumni and family members used whatever electronic device available to break down game after game of Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian’s season before the championship final took place on Saturday.

From watering holes to locker rooms, expats and rival schools, up north and at the arena itself, fans rooted for the Munising Mustangs in the 2023 MHSAA Division 4 semifinals and finals. For the Mustangs themselves, they’re honored and thankful to have the fans and the community join them in this championship run.

The Lakers’ Maddie Bradford (10) works to get up a shot while defended by Jaycee Larson. The motto this postseason for the Maple City Glen Lake girls basketball team was “Slam the door.” But at halftime of Saturday’s MHSAA Division 4 Final against Baraga, the Lakers still had to find their own way through it.

The Bay College Athletic Department has announced that Head Women’s Basketball Coach Matt Gregory has resigned from his position. “It is with mixed feelings that I will be resigning from my position as Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director,” said Gregory.

In between the third and fourth quarters of Munising’s playoff run, a small surprise has kept the Mustang faithful energized late into contests. Jack Conklin, age 6, has been pulling out one of sport’s biggest dance crazes to show his support for Munising basketball.

In a now-viral photograph, the Jeffers Jets put Upper Peninsula success first by showing their support for the Munising Mustangs immediately after the game. “I told him he should win this and bring it home.