It took a gritty effort to do it, but the Munising boys basketball team ended the regular season on a successful note. The Mustangs were playing at Powers North Central in their regular season finale on Tuesday, Feb. 20, notched a hard-fought 49-47 victory.

“North Central is a good athletic team, much better than their record shows,” head coach Terry Kienitz said. “They played great defense and it was a close game the entire time. We tried to push the tempo of the game, but they always came up with offensive rebounds and scores.”

The Jets led the game 33-32 entering the fourth quarter. Munising was up to the task though, and got two clutch three pointers by Trevor Nolan and another by Carson Kienitz to propel them back in front. Tyler Nelson made threeof- four from the free throw line in the closing minutes and T. Nolan also made a free throw to give them just enough for the win.

“Carson and Trevor hit big threes late in the game to give us the lead,” Kienitz said. “We made our free throws and survived.”

Munising got four points in the first quarter by T. Nolan, and Kienitz buried a three, and they held a slim 10-9 advantage after one. In the second, Jack Dusseault poured in eight points, Kienitz drilled another three, and Nolan Connaughton hit a triple as well, and they managed to increase their lead slightly at the half, 26-20.

That led to their 33-32 hole entering the fourth, where Munising was able to rally for the win.

The Mustangs were led by Kienitz with 14 points, Nolan finished with 11, Dusseault netted eight, Nelson and Connaughton each added seven and Daniel Goss added two, both on free throws.

Munising (17-4 overall) played at Newberry in a Division 4 district semi-final game on Wednesday, with Big Bay and Rapid River playing in the other semi. The district final will take place today (Friday) at a location to be announced. The district winner moves on to Tuesday’s regional semi-final game at Manistique.

“We had good success against all the teams in our district during the regular season, so I like our chances to come out of our district,” Kienitz said. “Looking forward to regionals, they are all winnable games, but all good teams. Definitely setting our goals to making it back to the Breslin Center (site of the final four).”