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M-M-M-MAROONS!!! Menominee Rolls To Breslin
 SAULT STE. MARIE---The Menominee High School boys basketball team advanced to the state's Final Four on Tuesday with a dominating 70-39 win over Grayling in the Division Three state quarterfinals in Sault Ste. Marie. The Maroons went on a 26-0 run over most of the second and third quarters to brush off the Vikings and earn a trip to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. Sam Larson was a player on that 2008 team, and now he is the head coach of this team. "It's great to go back," Larson said on our sister station, Maroons Radio 103.7 FM. "Just a surreal moment. Just an awesome performance by our kids. Watching Brady Badker and Brady Schultz get out there and defend at that level was just impressive. Can't say enough good things." The Maroons led early, 12-5, before the Vikings tied the game at 12-12 after the first quarter. But then Menominee clamped down hard on defense, leading to a huge run that included multiple lay-up baskets at the other end. Menominee outscored Grayling, 24-3, in that second quarter to go up, 36-15, at halftime, and then put it away with the first eight points of the third quarter. Eventually, Menominee went up by 40 points after a Badker triple made it 69-29, invoking the MHSAA running clock rule. "The defensive effort held us through in this one," Larson said. "We knocked down a couple of shots, especially in the first half, that I think helped to open it up. We put pride in our defense. That's what wins us games, and that's what did it for us tonight." Badker and Schultz, besides their lockdown defense, each scored 16 points to lead the Maroons. Aidan Bellisle added eleven points, while Cooper Conway added eight and Brody Waara scored seven. Matt Pickman had three triples and 13 points to lead Grayling, which finished its most successful season in generations with a 15-10 record. Menominee (22-3) will take on Ecorse from suburban Detroit in the semifinals Thursday morning. The Red Raiders have a 9-12 record, but that is deceptive, as they had to forfeit ten games and had COVID-19 issues. Thursday's game starts at 12:00 ET/11 a.m. CT. It will be broadcast on multpile radio stations across the Upper Peninsula, led hy flagship station FM-103.7 WHYB in Menominee. Other stations include FM-93.5/AM-600 in Escanaba. FM-99.5/AM-1320 in Marquette, FM-98.5/AM-1490 in Manistique, and AM-1450 in Iron Mountain/Kingsford. You can also listen in to Josh Kellner's broadcast on-line at www.rrnsports.com and at www.thebaycities.com. DONATE TO THE MAROONS: The Menominee Maroons are raising money to help cover some of the thousands of dollars it will take to head from the Soo to East Lansing for the state semifinals. You can help by clicking here for all of the options: https://www.menomineehoopsclub.com/?page_id=609 CHEER ON THE MAROONS AT MSU: A Menominee Maroons fan bus to East Lansing information: Leaving at 1:00 am CDT Thursday morning. Cost as of now $115 (unless we get some donations to help). It will be down and back (no hotel). Call 906-863-7814 Ext 5400 if you would like a seat on this bus. |
