PERKINS---The North Central Jets took the best shots that the Mid Peninsula Wolverines had to offer Monday night.
But in the end, the Jets overwhelmed the Wolverines, 69-48, in the Class D District Tournament opener at a lively Mid Pen High School Gym.
The Wolverines trailed just 19-15 after the first quarter, but were outscored, 20-6, in the second quarter. That gave the undefeated Jets a 39-21 lead, and it never got much closer than that as nine different NCA players got into the lineup in the second half.
"I thought we waited out the storm because Mid Pen came out aggressive tonight," North Central Coach Adam Mercier said. "They went toe-to-toe with us. That's gonna happen at tournament time. Every team is going to bring their best game."
The Jets went through a 20-0 regular season after making it to the Breslin Center last season. They are ranked #2 in the state in Class D, and have been the top-ranked team in the Upper Peninsula all season long in the U.P. Sportscasters and Sportswiters poll.
"The target is on our backs," Mercier said.
North Central led, 19-15, after the first quarter, even though an emotional Mid Pen team battled on every possession.
In the second quarter, the Wolverines hit an offensive dry spell and the Jets took advantage, outscoring them, 20-6, for a 39-21 halftime lead.
"That was our downfall," Mid Pen Coach Mark Branstrom said. "I thought we played a great first quarter. But in the second quarter, they got a lot of separation on us. Then after that, in the third and fourth quarters, we stayed right with them."
Mercier knew that the Wolverines would not just lie down, especially at home.
"I thought we did a nice job in the first half in responding to a couple of the runs that they had," Mercier said. "We need to do a better job of taking away the lane. And we need to shoot better. We didn't shoot very well tonight. But, overall, I liked our effort."
"It felt really nice," NCA senior Travis Vincent said of the win. "They came out tonight and played really hard and we did not expect that. I'm glad we came out with the win."
Vincent was one of four Jets to score in double figures. He had ten points, as did Caleb Martin. Ron Granquist led the way with 20 points, and Trevor Ekberg had 18.
Vincent says that it makes it easier when so many kids contribute off of the bench.
"It's really nice because when you get tired, you really need someone to come off the bench," Vincent said. "We have a lot of kids, and they really helped us a lot."
Mid Peninsula suffered through a 4-16 season, but played with pride on its home court.
The boys were led by Chad Branstrom's game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds.
"I felt pretty good," Chad Branstrom said. "The whole team came together. We had two good practices before we came here. We came in pretty confident. My team found out that I had the hot hand tonight, and I can't thank them enough."
Evan Winkelbauer, playing with a nasty case of the flu, scored 12 for Mid Peninsula.
The Wolverines knew that they were the heavy underdogs against the undefeated and top-ranked Jets. But Coach Branstrom says that his kids were not intimidated.
"I was glad to see how our guys felt tonight, because a couple of times this year, it wasn't like that," Coach Branstrom said. "I knew when we played Gladstone and got our rear-ends kicked, we didn't even have a chance when we came out of the locker room."
"Tonight, they knew that they could do it," the veteran Mid Pen coach continued. "We fell short. But I was really proud of them."
"(Playing) against a team like that is tough," Chad Branstrom said. "They're all really competitive and they're all really talented. I mean, especially Travis Vincent. You've got to get a body on him every time he goes up for a rebound."
There was mutual respect during this game. The Wolverines knew they were playing against a team that could win the state championship. And the NCA fans stood and cheered the Mid Pen seniors as they went to the bench during a late timeout.
"They are unbelievable," Coach Branstrom said of the Jets. "You don't realize it until you have to play them and you see the talent that they have. It's not one. It's not two. It's not three. There's so many people who can take over."
"We stop one, there's another one to take over," Coach Branstrom continued. "They kick it out to someone who should be a guard, but no, it's a guy who should be in the post who hits the three. That's why they will be hard to stop."
While the Mid Pen season ended, the Jets moved on to the district semifinals. North Central will host North Dickisnson Wednesday night. In the other semifinal, Bark River-Harris will face Carney-Nadeau. The title game is Friday night in Bark River.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos and videos taken at Monday night's game.
But in the end, the Jets overwhelmed the Wolverines, 69-48, in the Class D District Tournament opener at a lively Mid Pen High School Gym.
"I thought we waited out the storm because Mid Pen came out aggressive tonight," North Central Coach Adam Mercier said. "They went toe-to-toe with us. That's gonna happen at tournament time. Every team is going to bring their best game."
The Jets went through a 20-0 regular season after making it to the Breslin Center last season. They are ranked #2 in the state in Class D, and have been the top-ranked team in the Upper Peninsula all season long in the U.P. Sportscasters and Sportswiters poll.
"The target is on our backs," Mercier said.
Rob Granquist scores after Josh Granquist steal.
In the second quarter, the Wolverines hit an offensive dry spell and the Jets took advantage, outscoring them, 20-6, for a 39-21 halftime lead.
Mercier knew that the Wolverines would not just lie down, especially at home.
"I thought we did a nice job in the first half in responding to a couple of the runs that they had," Mercier said. "We need to do a better job of taking away the lane. And we need to shoot better. We didn't shoot very well tonight. But, overall, I liked our effort."
"It felt really nice," NCA senior Travis Vincent said of the win. "They came out tonight and played really hard and we did not expect that. I'm glad we came out with the win."
MP's Chad Branstrom gets block, basket, foul.
Vincent says that it makes it easier when so many kids contribute off of the bench.
"It's really nice because when you get tired, you really need someone to come off the bench," Vincent said. "We have a lot of kids, and they really helped us a lot."
The boys were led by Chad Branstrom's game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds.
"I felt pretty good," Chad Branstrom said. "The whole team came together. We had two good practices before we came here. We came in pretty confident. My team found out that I had the hot hand tonight, and I can't thank them enough."
Evan Winkelbauer, playing with a nasty case of the flu, scored 12 for Mid Peninsula.
The Wolverines knew that they were the heavy underdogs against the undefeated and top-ranked Jets. But Coach Branstrom says that his kids were not intimidated.
"I was glad to see how our guys felt tonight, because a couple of times this year, it wasn't like that," Coach Branstrom said. "I knew when we played Gladstone and got our rear-ends kicked, we didn't even have a chance when we came out of the locker room."
NCA's Trevor Ekberg gets steal, hoop, foul.
"(Playing) against a team like that is tough," Chad Branstrom said. "They're all really competitive and they're all really talented. I mean, especially Travis Vincent. You've got to get a body on him every time he goes up for a rebound."
"They are unbelievable," Coach Branstrom said of the Jets. "You don't realize it until you have to play them and you see the talent that they have. It's not one. It's not two. It's not three. There's so many people who can take over."
"We stop one, there's another one to take over," Coach Branstrom continued. "They kick it out to someone who should be a guard, but no, it's a guy who should be in the post who hits the three. That's why they will be hard to stop."
While the Mid Pen season ended, the Jets moved on to the district semifinals. North Central will host North Dickisnson Wednesday night. In the other semifinal, Bark River-Harris will face Carney-Nadeau. The title game is Friday night in Bark River.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see more photos and videos taken at Monday night's game.
