Menominee Extends Downstate Stay to Championship Day with 'Powerful' Performance
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
March 24, 2022
EAST LANSING - The chants from the Menominee student section said it all during the final minute of the first Division 3 Boys Basketball Semifinal on Thursday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
“U.P. power! U.P power!”
Indeed, Menominee represented the Upper Peninsula loud and proud, taking a big early lead, withstanding a furious second-half rally, and then pulling away late for a 74-56 win over Ecorse.
Menominee advanced to its first MHSAA Finals championship game since it won the Class B crown in 1967.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Menominee senior Brady Schultz.
It was a balanced effort for Menominee, led by Schultz, who had a game-high 26 points to go along with seven rebounds.
Senior Cooper Conway had 18 points and nine rebounds, senior Aidan Bellisle had 12 points and 10 assists and senior Brady Badker added 10 points for Menominee (23-3).
The Maroons showcased their ability to handle what a quick Ecorse team threw at them, displaying their length, ball movement and athleticism.
“That’s been something that’s been our trait and our characteristic all season long,” Menominee coach Sam Larson said. “We are fairly long, and we think we are pretty athletic. I know there is probably a difference in athleticism most times when the U.P. teams come down to play Lower Peninsula teams. But we think we match up athletically with most teams in the state in our division.”
Schultz said a game earlier in the season against Milwaukee Bradley Tech helped his team simulate the quickness and defensive pressure Ecorse offered.
“When we handle the pressure well, we get open shots and dump offs,” Schultz said. “Bradley Tech pretty much helped us with that game.”
Ecorse scored the first five points over the opening 1:34 of the game. But Menominee responded with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes and never looked back.
The Maroons held a 19-13 lead going into the second quarter, and with a 7-2 run took a 36-18 lead with 1:56 remaining until halftime.
Menominee ended up taking a 41-23 lead into the locker room at the break, shooting 51.7 percent from the field overall (15 of 29) and making 7 of 14 shots from 3-point range.
The Maroons also forced 12 turnovers during the first half.
Ecorse came out with more urgency in the second half, employing full-court pressure, hitting some shots and getting back in the game.
The Raiders scored almost as many points during the third quarter (22) as they did in the first half, cutting the Menominee lead to 53-45 entering the fourth quarter.
The lead continued to shrink, with Ecorse cutting the Menominee advantage to 57-52 with 6:11 remaining after a deep 3-pointer by junior Kenneth Morrast Jr.
“I thought we got tentative offensively,” Larson said. “We wanted to just pass it around and run the clock, and that’s not where we are at our best. If we get an open shot, we have to go after it.”
However, Menominee held firm for the next few minutes, keeping a 63-56 lead with 2:38 remaining before putting the game away.
Effectively breaking the Ecorse press, getting stops and making free throws, Menominee went on an 11-0 run, punctuated by a Schultz dunk, to take a 74-56 lead with just over 57 seconds remaining.
Ecorse (9-13), which had to forfeit 10 games during the regular season, was playing in its first Semifinal since 1980.
Morrast scored 20 points, and sophomore Dennell Kemp added 15 for the Raiders.
Ecorse coach Gerrod Abram said he was proud of how his team rallied from a big deficit in the first half, but his squad simply ran out of gas.
“We dug a hole for ourselves that we just couldn’t get out of,” Abram said. “But I’m just so very proud of my team and these young men here.”
PHOTOS (Top) Menominee’s Brady Schultz (24) gets his hands on a loose ball during Thursday’s Division 3 Semifinal win over Ecorse. (Middle) The Maroons celebrate advancing to the championship game. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys Report Week 3
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 16, 2024
If you’re looking to spend some free times during holiday break watching high school boys basketball, does the state of Michigan have a show for you.
Beginning Friday and continuing until most schools return to class Jan. 6, there are 58 boys hoops events over 13 dates featuring teams from all over both peninsulas playing hundreds of games to keep you in game shape until we get back into the regular routine next month.
We highlight just a few of those matchups below; find the rest on the Scores page of this website. “Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. East Lansing 69, Warren Lincoln 54 East Lansing (4-0) has championship aspirations in Division 1, and handing the reigning Division 2 champion Abes (3-1) their first loss at the Moneyball Tip Off Classic was a strong early statement.
2. Belleville 47, North Farmington 45 The Tigers (3-1) also impressed, downing the reigning Division 1 runner-up Raiders (3-2) at the Northville Showcase.
3. Grand Haven 78, Grand Rapids Christian 61 Grand Haven (3-1) is bouncing back nicely from last year’s 11-12 finish, including with this win over last season’s Division 2 runner-up Eagles (3-1) at The Invite at Calvin University.
4. Saginaw United 58, Freeland 49 After opening with a pair of losses, United (2-2) earned its first victory in program history over a Freeland team that won 20 last season.
5. Birmingham Groves 82, Wayne Memorial 78 The Falcons (5-0) already are gaining quickly on last season’s 13 wins, with this one at the KLAA/OAA Challenge arguably the most impressive so far.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Dearborn (5-0) The Pioneers are a combined 64-17 over the last three seasons plus the start of this one and finished 23-1 a season ago. They handed Grand Haven (see above) their only loss this winter, 60-59 on Dec. 6, and last week outlasted Chelsea for a 70-67 triple-overtime victory. Wayne Memorial on Thursday to kick off the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East schedule should tell us more; Wayne was third in the league last winter.
Rockford (4-0) The Rams also are off to quite a start, with Saturday’s 57-49 win over Grand Rapids Northview at The Invite their only single-digit win during these first few weeks. Rockford was 18-5 a season ago, winning the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red but losing its District opener. This impressive start should make that quick end a distant memory – Northview won 18 games last winter – and the Rams also closed the first week with a 27-pointer over Grand Rapids Catholic Central, a 20-win team in 2023-24.
DIVISION 2
Hudsonville Unity Christian (5-0) Back-to-back overtime victories on back-to-back days has Unity still undefeated, as the Crusaders downed Grand Rapids South Christian 62-56 on Friday and came back Saturday with a 53-49 win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central at Calvin. Unity is seeking to build on last season’s 18-5 run and has to be excited already – two of those 2023-24 losses, including the season-ender in a District opener, came to South Christian.
South Haven (5-0) The Rams have busted through the gates winning their first five games by an average of 19.6 points. The most notable victory had to be 70-56 over Watervliet on Dec. 6, as Watervliet swept South Haven last season and they finished first and second, respectively, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore. Up next is Kalamazoo Christian on Tuesday and another chance to avenge a 2023-24 defeat, as the Rams fell by nine to the Comets a year ago.
DIVISION 3
Harbor Springs (5-0) A pair of close wins last week has these Rams also undefeated, as Harbor Springs came off three big victories during the first two weeks to edge Boyne City 59-53 and Charlevoix 50-47. The latter was especially notable, as the Rams split with the Rayders last season as they tied for second in the former Lake Michigan Conference. They’ve both moved to the Northern Shores Conference this season, as has last season’s LMC champion Elk Rapids.
Springport (5-0) The Spartans quickly have pushed to the top of the Big 8 Conference standings as the only team undefeated in league play after three games. They edged new league member Stockbridge 49-47 on Friday after earlier in the week getting past Union City 58-53; Springport and Union City split last season. Last week’s win is Union City’s only loss this winter, and the Spartans also have handed Hillsdale its only defeat.
DIVISION 4
Burr Oak (4-0) The Bobcats have created some momentum early, most notably with Thursday’s 63-45 win over Colon after falling to the Magi by five and 10 points last season. All four of Burr Oak’s wins have come by at least 15 points as they look to build on last winter’s jump that saw the Bobcats finish 14-10 after going 8-14 in 2022-23. Coming up this Thursday is Bellevue, which defeated Burr Oak by 24 and 17 points during 2023-24.
Peterburg Summerfield (6-0) There are only six 6-0 teams in the state so far, and Summerfield has been on an absolute tear winning its games by 34 points on average. Among those victories in a 67-54 turn back of Erie Mason after those two split last season on the way to Summerfield finishing 19-5 overall. Circle Jan. 17, when the Bulldogs meet Adrian Lenawee Christian for the first time after losing three times to the Cougars last winter.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Birmingham Groves (5-0) at North Farmington (3-2) – Although both play major showcase games over break, this could be part of deciding the Oakland Activities Association Red title in a few months.
Saturday – Detroit U-D Jesuit (4-0) at Clarkston (4-0) – The host Wolves play one of the premier games with this 1:45 p.m. tip at the D Zone Invitational.
Saturday – East Lansing (4-0) vs. Muskegon (2-0) at Clarkston – This is the 7 p.m. game at the D Zone Invitational and features another pair of Division 1 contenders.
Saturday – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (2-1) vs. Rockford (4-0) at Clarkston – This D Zone Invitational finale tips off at 8:45 p.m. and showcases two more of the best in Division 1 including the reigning champion Eaglets.
Jan. 4 – Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (3-1) vs. Adrian Lenawee Christian (5-0) at Schoolcraft – These appear to be two of the best in Division 4 again, and they’ll match up in the Schoolcraft Champions Classic; Tri-unity is the reigning D4 champion and Lenawee a 20-game winner a year ago.
MHSAA.com's weekly “Breslin Bound” previews and reviews are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
PHOTOS (Top) Mason’s Cason Carswell (5) considers his options during a 65-63 win over Haslett on Friday, as the Vikings’ Wardrell Wicker (5) and Rishon Karikalan (21) defend. (Middle) Flint Powers Catholic’s Jesse Cull (13) gets up a shot during his team’s 69-59 win over Flushing on Tuesday. (Mason/Haslett photo by John Johnson. Powers/Flushing photo by Terry Lyons.)