Back in the middle of January, the Munising girls basketball team lost a disappointing one point game at home to Manistique. On Thursday, Feb. 29, Munising played down at Manistique, and they were able to get some revenge on the Lady Emeralds, claiming a 57-41 victory in what was their final contest in regular season play.
“We tried to use our pressure defense to our advantage and it led to a 33-20 halftime lead,” head coach Matt Mattson said. “The second half was played about even but we came out on top. This was a very satisfying win against someone who beat us earlier in the year.”
The Lady Mustangs had a well-rounded first quarter. Bailey Corcoran, Emmy Crisp and Sabryna Smith were all able to score four points, and Julia Prunick sent home a three pointer. Munising used this to lead 15-10 after one.
Corcoran had a solid second quarter, netting 11 of the team’s 18 points. Crisp also put in five more in the frame and it was a 33-20 Mustang lead at the half. The big night continued for Corcoran in the third, and she sent through six more points. Crisp added four more and entering the fourth Munising led 47-26.
The Mustangs were led by Corcoran with 25 points, Crisp scored 17, Dayne Behning added six, Smith netted four, Prunick scored three and Tessa Salo added two.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27 Munising played their way to a 48-26 home victory over Newberry.
“Newberry is led by Lucie Rabochova. who is a six foot exchange student who plays point guard, so we had to focus our defense on getting the ball out of her hands and trying to speed them up,” Mattson said. “Our pressure defense led by Sabryna Smith did a great job and allowed us to jump out to a 35-8 lead at halftime.”
The Mustangs also led 10-5 after the first quarter and 45-19 entering the fourth.
Crisp led all scorers with 25 points, Corcoran hit double figures as well with 12 points, Behning added eight points and Olivia Cotey added three.
The Indians had Rabochova and Allie Whalen each score nine points. Gracie Taylor contributed eight points.
“Newberry and Manistique are both good teams,” Mattson said. “Newberry recently beat St. Ignace and Manistique beat us earlier in the year so it was a tough week.”
Munising (18-4 overall) was at home against Superior Central on Wednesday in a Division 4 district semi-final game. Newberry took on Big Bay in the other semi-final, with the winners playing on Friday in the district championship at a location to be announced. This district champion moves on to a regional semi-final game on Tuesday, held at Brimley.
“Superior Central lost their two best players to injury this season so they’ve struggled down the stretch, but coach Skip Rutter always has his girls playing hard so we’ll have to play well to move on,” Mattson said. “To add to the tournament excitement Emmy Crisp sits at 993 points, so she could join the handful of 1000 point scorers for Munising.”
