PERFECTION! Jets Bounce Morenci For State Title

EAST LANSING, Mich.---The North Central High School boys basketball team ended its season the way the campaign began four months ago: with a dominating victory.

The Jets built an early lead Saturday and then pulled away from the Morenci Bulldogs, 67-47, to win a Class D state championship at Michigan State University. It was NCA's first basketball state title since 1984, and the win capped a perfect 27-0 season.

North Central had great regular seasons the past two years, but lost in the semifinals in 2013 and quarterfinals in 2014. Not this time!

“We have a lot of skill players, a lot of kids who love basketball,” NCA Coach Adam Mercier said during a post-game press conference. “These kids just play a style that I like to coach, and I know fans like seeing."

NCA senior Rob Granquist scored nine points in the first quarter as the Jets built its big lead against a Morenci team that was clearly overwhelmed.

“Coach and the guys told me to be aggressive,” Granquist said. “It’s my last game, so I was going to go out and do what I do. They trust me, and we trust each other.”

The Jets led, 26-17, after the first quarter, making ten of their 13 shots from the floor.

It's a routine that NCA has followed all season long: jump on the opponent and keep the peddle on the metal. In a regular season game against Big Bay deNoc, for example, the Jets made 14 straight shots in the first half of a mercy-rule win.

“They’re basketball savvy, and you see that on the floor. They knew where they’re passing before they get the ball even. We don’t have set positions. We play in space. I’m not a big 'set' guy,” Mercier said. “It’s a matter of getting guys in good position to score and being ready to roll." 

Morenci Coach Jim Bauer knew his team was the underdog coming in.

“We knew lightning would have to strike, when we’re playing a team with that size, quickness, ball-handling, rebounders; that team had it all,” Bauer said. “I talked (to our team) about if we played them 10 times, they’d probably beat us nine, but we were hoping today we’d strike a little magic, play a perfect game and hang with them."

"For the most part, we did a respectable job."

The Jets outscored the Bulldogs, 19-9, in the second quarter, to take a commanding 45-26 lead into the halftime locker room. They led by 27 points after three quarters.

Sophomore Jason Whitens led North Central with 19 points, making 9 of his 12 shots, and also had seven rebounds and four assists. Junior Caleb Martin added 13 points and sophomore Bobby Kleiman also had 13 points, plus six rebounds.

Senior Torin Merillat led the Bulldogs with 11 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Senior Austin Sandusky also finished with 11 points for Morenci (24-3).

HERO'S WELCOME---North Central's team bus was met with a hero's parade Saturday night, as a Michigan State Police squad car escorted the team from Garden Corners to Hermansville. That's where the boys were given a big welcome by hundreds of supporters who piled inside the old Hermansville Gym, where the Gold Medal Classic Tournament is wrapping up this weekend.

U.P. POWER AT MSU---The NCA Jets' triumph was the third state championship for Upper Peninsula high school basketball teams in seven days. The Calumet Copper Kings (Class C) and St. Ignace Saints (Class D) both won girls state titles last week.