Click the thumbnails to see photos and video highlights, and hear post-game comments from Kane Nebel, Hayden Rockhill, and Jesse Duran.
MUNISING---The Munising High School boys basketball team rolled to a MHSAA district championship Friday night, avenging last year's upset loss to the Rapid River Rockets by winning this time, 60-25, in Munising.
"Watching them celebrate last year, nothing against them guys, but they were happy last year and we are happy this year," Munising junior Kane Nebel said. "It's just a great feeling."
The Mustangs shook off a sluggish start and Rapid River's slow-down tactics to win their 19th game of the season and advance to the regional semifinals Monday nignt in Negaunee against the North Central Jets. Those two teams split their regular season match-ups.
Munising led, 8-5, after one quarter, and 21-10 at the half, before blowing the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Rapid River, 22-4, to take a 43-14 lead.
"They definitely slowed it down and we didn't get to running like we usually do," Nebel said. "Once that second half started, it felt good to run again. It helped getting the ball down into the paint. We were definitely settling (for jump shots) in the first half and getting the ball down to our big man, Jesse Duran, helped a lot."
For his part, Duran wasn't impressed with his performance. Rapid River big man Kodey Goldi held Duran to one point in the first half and he ended up with just three points in the game.
"It was just great to be out there with all the underclassmen," said Duran, the 6-5 center who was named the conference Most Valuable Player this week. "They came forward and actually put down the work this summer. They came out and showed what they worked for. Like Trevor Nolan. He came out on fire. They stepped up because us upperclassmen didn't do too good."
Indeed, Nolan, a freshman, nailed five three-point baskets and finished with 15 points. Nebel, who returned to the line-up this month after missing the entire season due to last year's knee injury, led the Mustangs (19-2) with 16 points.
"It's awesome to be back out there playing again," Nebel said. "The start of the season wasn't there, middle of the season wasn't, but end of the season, definitely feeling strong."
Goldi had five points early for the Rockets but was saddled with three fouls and didn't play much in the second half. Jaiden McCarty and Rease Dawley each had a pair of triples as Rapid River finished its season with a 13-9 record, including three losses to Munising.
Munising and North Central play at 7:00 ET/6:00 CT in Negaunee Monday night. You'll hear the game on FM-107.3 and radioresultsnetwork.com.
"We're not afraid of them," Duran said. "We'll be ready."
The first game that night, at 5:30, is Ewen-Trout Creek against Lake-Linden-Hubbell.
MUNISING---The Munising High School boys basketball team rolled to a MHSAA district championship Friday night, avenging last year's upset loss to the Rapid River Rockets by winning this time, 60-25, in Munising.
"Watching them celebrate last year, nothing against them guys, but they were happy last year and we are happy this year," Munising junior Kane Nebel said. "It's just a great feeling."
Munising led, 8-5, after one quarter, and 21-10 at the half, before blowing the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Rapid River, 22-4, to take a 43-14 lead.
"They definitely slowed it down and we didn't get to running like we usually do," Nebel said. "Once that second half started, it felt good to run again. It helped getting the ball down into the paint. We were definitely settling (for jump shots) in the first half and getting the ball down to our big man, Jesse Duran, helped a lot."
For his part, Duran wasn't impressed with his performance. Rapid River big man Kodey Goldi held Duran to one point in the first half and he ended up with just three points in the game.
"It was just great to be out there with all the underclassmen," said Duran, the 6-5 center who was named the conference Most Valuable Player this week. "They came forward and actually put down the work this summer. They came out and showed what they worked for. Like Trevor Nolan. He came out on fire. They stepped up because us upperclassmen didn't do too good."
"It's awesome to be back out there playing again," Nebel said. "The start of the season wasn't there, middle of the season wasn't, but end of the season, definitely feeling strong."
Goldi had five points early for the Rockets but was saddled with three fouls and didn't play much in the second half. Jaiden McCarty and Rease Dawley each had a pair of triples as Rapid River finished its season with a 13-9 record, including three losses to Munising.
Munising and North Central play at 7:00 ET/6:00 CT in Negaunee Monday night. You'll hear the game on FM-107.3 and radioresultsnetwork.com.
"We're not afraid of them," Duran said. "We'll be ready."
The first game that night, at 5:30, is Ewen-Trout Creek against Lake-Linden-Hubbell.
