• HS Softball 4/18: Gladstone 10, Westwood 0, Gm 1
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  • HS Baseball 4/18: Iron Mountain 11, L'Anse 0
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Gladstone 2, Negaunee 0, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Manistique 4, Superior Central 2, Gm 1
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Gladstone 4, Negaunee 1, Gm 2
  • HS Baseball 4/18: Manistique 13, Superior Central 2, Gm 2
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Friday April 19, 2024
Manistique Emeralds Outlast Mackinaw City, 51-49

Click the thumbnails to hear post-game comments from Elmer Zellar and Coach Cody Kangas.

MANISTIQUE---The Manistique High School boys basketball team battled for the entire 32 minutes with the Mackinaw City Comets on Friday, and that's what it took as the Emeralds posted a nailbiting 51-49 win to take the Manistique Holiday Tournament championship.

The game was close all the way, with Mackinaw City holding a three-point lead at halftime.

"I was pleased with the way we started," Manistique Coach Cody Kangas said. "But lost a little bit so I challenged them at halftime with the way we finished the half. I just basically said, hey, we're getting beat on the boards, and we need to do this and that. Just challenging the guys."

The Emeralds came out in the third quarter and rolled through the Comet defense, building a ten-point lead late in the quarter. But the Emeralds had to deal with foul trouble, and the sharpshooter Cooper Whipkey kept nailing three-point baskets.

"We put together a little run and put some points on the board," Kangas said. "I think those guys got a little too comforatble with that lead. "

"The energy was unmatchable," senior Elmer Zellar said. "It was awesome, not being able to be stopped. We had an eight, nine point leas, and hen we kind of lost it, and had some foul trouble. But we pulled it out. We just had to keep our energy going, and finish at the rim. That was the big problem we were having in the first half."

Whipkey knocked down his sixth triple of the game with just over two minutes to play, tying the game at 47-47. But Parker Graphos came quickly up court and answered with a triple of his own, giving Manistique a 50-47 lead. And after a Comets miss at the other end, the Emeralds went into a stall offense, eventually getting to the foul line.

The Emeralds struggled in the final minute with the "dagger" foul shots, and the Comets had another chance, trailing, 50-49. They pounded the ball inside, and got three shots off that hung on the rim, but none of them would fall.

Finally, on the rebound, Zellar was able to get the tie-up for the jump ball with three seconds left. The possession arrow pointed to Manistique.

"Our biggest focus was 15 (Whipkey)," Zellar said. "He was the biggest threat. We couldn't leave him (open) because he was shooting from everywhere and he was making everything."

Manistique got the ball to Graphos, and he was fouled. He made the front end of the one-and-one to make it 51-49, and even though he missed the second one, the Comets could only launch a full-court desperatuon heave that came up well short.

"I was pleased with the way we battled back and we were able to finish the game," Kangas said. "They rose to the challenge. I'm very proud of those guys."

The Emeralds, after losing their first three games to Gladstone, Negaunee, and Iron Mountain, have now won two straight games, and have some hardware for the school trophy case.

Manistique was led by Bryce Blixt's 14 points. Graphos added 12, including 5-of-6 at the free throw line. Wyatt Demers added ten points, and Seth Mersnick chipped in nine points.

For the Comets, Whipkey scored a game-high 23 points, all on triples and free throws.

Manistique will try to get to the .500 mark on Monday when they travel to Engadine to face the Eagles. The game will be broadcast on WTIQ-FM/AM (98.5/1490).

"The goal was to be 3-3 after six games, and that's still intact," Kangas said.

In Friday's tournament third place game, Newberry defeated Cedarville, 50-42.





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