Munising’s boys basketball team continued to have the hot hand on Friday. The Mustangs were playing a non-league game over at a quality Rudyard team, and managed to pick up a well-played win, 68-58.
“It was a fast paced, physical game,” head coach Terry Kienitz said. “We started slow defensively, gave up some transition baskets and didn’t rebound well. Made a run in the third and held the lead, making a bunch of free throws in the fourth to seal the victory.”
The Mustangs were able to take a double- digit lead in the first quarter. Carson Kienitz knocked down a pair of threes and had eight points in the frame, while Trevor Nolan also had a three. Tyler Nelson chipped in with four points in the quarter and Munising led 19-7 after one.
In the second, Nolan sent home another three and Jack Dusseault had four points, including a pair of free throws and their lead was 30-21 at the half.
Nolan Connaughton, Nelson andT. Nolan all hit threes in the third, as the Munising offense continued to roll. Nolan added a twopoint field and a pair of free throws as well in the quarter, helping the Mustangs carry a 49-30 lead entering the fourth.
The Bulldogs sent Munising to the line repeatedly in the final minutes. T. Nolan was up to the task though, as he was a perfect 10of-10 on free throws in the fourth. Kienitz was four-of-six at the line in the final frame and Dusseault hit two at the stripe as well to help the Mustangs hang on.
T. Nolan led all scorers with 23 points on the night, going an impressive 12-of-13 from the line. Dusseault added 15 points and Kienitz netted 14. T. Nelson finished with nine points and Connaughton added seven.
Rudyard was led by 1000-plus point scorer Cam Peterson, Jaxon Clark scored nine while Aiden Bickel and Eli Sprague had eight apiece.
On Monday, Jan. 15 Munising had a much easier time with visiting Carney-Nadeau, claiming a 71-23 victory.
In the opening frame, Dusseault hit the nets for eight points and Kienitz knocked down a pair of threes. The Mustangs carried a 25-5 lead entering the second, where Dusseault added 10 more points, helping them to a 54-16 lead at half.
They also led 65-21 entering the fourth. T. Nolan hit three treys on the night and finished with 19 points, Dusseault scored 18, Kienitz netted 12 points, Nelson put in nine and Connaughton chipped in with eight. Adding three was Daniel Goss, while Keegan Long and Caiden Curtis had one point each.
Munising (10-3 overall) who hosted Newberry on Wednesday, is scheduled to host Ishpeming on Friday and is slated to play Bark River Harris on Monday.
