March 2023

The incredible second season of varsity hockey for the Manistique Emeralds came to a sad, sudden end in the MHSAA regional semifinals at Sault Ste. Marie Friday night. The Emeralds, who advanced to the second game of the playoffs for the first time after beating Negaunee in a pre-regional qualifying game, came up just short in an intense battle with the Blue Devils. They fell 2-1, seeing their season wrap up with an overall record of 18-7-1.

The showdown is set with Alger County’s biggest rivals meeting up in the district championship game once again. The Munising Mustangs (15-5) will travel to Eben Junction and face Superior Central (12-7) for the District 100 championship after both teams comfortably won their semifinal on Wednesday.

The Munising Mustangs are Skyline Central Conference champions, finishing an undefeated conference schedule after beating the Norway Knights 7065 in Norway on Tuesday. “It was a big game, essentially it was a conference championship game,” Munising Head Coach Terry Kienitz said.

The Central Upper Peninsula Conference returned after a 15-year hiatus for the 2022-23 basketball season. Containing four schools that were either in the small school division of the Skyline Central Conference, the large side of the Northern Lights League or otherwise independent, the Superior Central Cougars won the CUP with an undefeated conference schedule.

The MHSAA boys basketball district pairings were announced on Sunday, Feb. 26, with local squads facing unusual opponents in the district tournament. Unlike the girls bracket, the boys will be played in a traditional bracket formula with all games played at Big Bay de Noc.

The Skyline Central Conference has released its all-conference awards for the girls basketball season, with players from both Munising and Superior Central represented. The two Alger County schools had three all-conference selections, two more honorable mentions and a spot on the all-SCC Defensive Team.