Playing three games in four nights can be quite the tall order. The Munising girls basketball team played well in just such a stretch, though, winning two of three, including a convincing 65-30 senior night home win over Manistique on Feb. 27.
“Three games in the final week of the regular season will keep you on your toes,” head coach Matt Mattson said. “The five seniors — Tessa Salo, Bailey Corcoran, Dayne Behning, Kate Mattson and Elizabeth Wing — were honored prior to tipoff. All five seniors started and scored to cap off their home regular-season finale.”
Addie Bowerman scored nine points in the first quarter to help the Mustangs get off to a good start, and they led 19-10 after one.
Munising had a monster second quarter, scoring 29 points.
The team got 10 points from Bowerman, nine from Corcoran and six by Behning, and it was a commanding 48-18 advantage at the half. They also led 63-27 entering the fourth.
“I thought we played with the correct amount of intensity and played fast,” Mattson said. “The second half saw a lot of playing time for everyone, which is a nice way to end the regular season.”
For the Mustangs, Bowerman led the way with 21 points. Corcoran netted 16, and Behning finished with 14. Wing tallied six points, Olivia Cotey added four and Salo and Mattson scored two each.
On Feb. 25, Munising won a big game over a solid Stephenson squad, 54-28. This also gave the team the Skyline Central Conference Large School title.
“In the first half, I thought we were playing well but missing some shots,” Mattson said. “We went into halftime with only a six-point lead but came out in the third quarter with a little more defensive pressure and outscored them 19-3, which gave us a 22-point cushion going into the fourth quarter. We outscored them by four in the fourth, stopping their eight-game win streak and securing a conference title.”
Munising led 10-9 after one and 21-15 at the half. The Mustangs’ advantage entering the fourth was 40-18.
Bowerman had her usual big game with 22 points. Corcoran hit double figures as well with 14. Wing contributed five points, and Cotey and Mattson scored two each.
Munising’s week began with a loss on Feb. 24, 32-28 at home against Gwinn.
“We didn’t play very well and shot extremely poor, but some of that was because Gwinn is a very good defensive team,” Mattson said. “It was a close game the entire time, but Gwinn played better in the fourth quarter and beat us.”
Six points from Corcoran in the first quarter helped Munising claim an 11-4 lead after one. The Mustangs’ offense dried up from there, however, and they led just 1512 at the half and 22-21 entering the fourth.
The Mustangs had Bowerman and Corcoran lead the offense, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively. Cotey and Salo chipped in with two points apiece.
Munising (18-4 overall) hosted Rapid River on Wednesday in a Division 4 district semifinal game. Superior Central and Big Bay de Noc played in the other semifinal, with the championship game slated for tonight (Friday). This district winner will play in a regional semifinal game on Monday in Kingsford.
“We now shift our focus to district play,” Mattson said. “We host the district, so that’s always a nice bonus. We have a great fan base, and I hope everyone comes out to watch.”
