Maroons advance to Region 17 championship game after toppling Jeffers

MARQUETTE — Jeffers’ high-octane offense ran out of fuel at the worst possible time, as the Menominee boys basketball team grounded the Jets 64-39 in Tuesday’s MHSAA Division 3, Region 17 semifinal in Marquette.

Menominee (19-6) locked down a spot in Thursday’s Region 17 championship game in Manistique. The Maroons faced Elk Rapids, with results unavailable at press time.

Jeffers (23-2) entered Tuesday’s contest averaging 73 points per game but the Maroons threw a wet blanket on the Jets, particularly in the second half, with Menominee giving up just 19 points after halftime.

The third quarter was especially kind to the Maroons, as Menominee outscored Jeffers by an 18-to-6 margin, turning what had been a six-point affair at halftime into a commanding 44-26 lead.

The Maroons led by as much as 27 points in the fourth quarter before closing matters out by hitting nine of their 10 free throws down the stretch.

Jeffers’ 39 points represent a season-low. The Jets had not scored less than 56 points in any game this season prior to Tuesday.

Four players scored for Menominee and all of them hit double-figures, with Trevor Theuerkauf’s game-high 26 points leading the way.

Tanner Theuerkauf and Connor Coduti both finished with 13 points, while Nathan Schultz pitched in 12.

Levi Frahm paced Jeffers with 15 points.

Menominee 64, Jeffers 39Menominee 12 14 18 20 — 64

Jeffers 8 12 6 13 — 39

Menominee: Tr. Theuerkauf 26, Coduti 13, Ta. Theuerkauf 13, Schultz 12; FTs: 16-17