GARDEN CORNERS - On paper it appeared to be an even matchup when Big Bay de Noc hosted Munising in an MHSAA Class D district semifinal Wednesday night, but the Mustangs came out red-hot with an early 14-2 run en route to a 50-33 victory.
Mustangs' guard Jenna Hach had a career night, scoring 17 points, including four triples, but most impressive was her nothing-but-net first quarter.
Hach scored 11 consecutive points, hitting back-to-back shots from downtown, followed by a jumper from just inside the arc, and finally another triple. It was the last thing Hach, who normally averages around seven points a night, expected.
"I try to shoot more, especially having (senior) Emily DesJardins out from the beginning of the season. I didn't think they were going in tonight, but then they did, so I'm happy," she said. "It was important for us to keep the gas pedal on and not let up at all."
Sheena Sowa had eight points with nine rebounds for the Mustangs and Katie Immel dished out five assists to go with her seven points.
Munising (12-10) now advances to the district title game Friday night back at Big Bay de Noc against No. 2-ranked Superior Central, which dispatched Rapid River earlier in the evening.
Superior Central 67, Rapid River 25
The Cougars' district semifinal victory went about how you would expect a game between a 21-0 team and an 0-19 team to go.
Brooke Pasanen, who hit a career-high with 23 points, opened the game on a deep triple, and hit two more from downtown throughout the game, her third one began the running clock with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Cougars (22-0) got out to a 16-0 start and led 25-4 after the first quarter.
"I thought the girls played pretty well. We got off to a good start, the defense was working and we were making easy buckets," said Cougars coach Greg Trowbridge.
Fresh off breaking the 1,000-point plateau, SC junior Vanessa Freberg had a quiet seven points, but found her teammates plenty often with some nice passes inside, helping Pasanen to her career night along with Lindsey Richmond, who had seven assists. Trowbridge said the selfless performance spoke to Freberg's character.
"She had seven points and I never saw her looking to score," he said. "She got her teammates involved and that's so important. It shows what kind of player she is."