Maroons run over Elks to capture Region 17 championship

MANISTIQUE, Mich. — For the second time in the last three seasons, the Menominee boys basketball team are Division 3, Region 17 champions after the Maroons made roadkill of Elk Rapids 58-37 on Thursday.

Menominee (20-6) will face McBain (24-2) in the Division 3 State quarterfinals on Tuesday. The game will take place at Gaylord beginning at 5 p.m.

Connor Coduti and Trevor Theuerkauf ambushed Elk Rapids with back-to-back 3-pointers to kick off Thursday’s contest and the Elks looked like deer in the headlights the rest of the way, never pulling closer than two points.

Elk Rapids (19-8) clawed back within seven late in the second quarter before Menominee reeled off seven unanswered points, including a buzzer-beating triple by Tanner Theuerkauf, to build a 35-21 lead at halftime.

Menominee blew matters wide open in the third quarter, outscoring Elk Rapids by a 17-to-5 margin. The Elks scored just one basket in the third quarter.

Tanner Theuerkauf put an exclamation mark on Thursday’s blowout with a thunderous dunk that brought the Menominee fans to their feet and made it a 56-29 affair with 4:26 left to play.

Coduti tacked on a layup before Elk Rapids closed on an 8-0 run against the Maroons’ bench mob.

Tanner and Trevor Theuerkauf both poured in 16 points for Menominee. Darrent Butler scored 10 points in his first extended action since injuring his ankle, Coduti pitched in eight, Eli Beal tallied four and Nathan Schultz added three.

Owen Spencer paced Elk Rapids with 12 points. Haven Somers collected seven, Christian Kerfoot contributed six, while Zeke Bolde and Noah Hilley had four.

Menominee 58, Elk Rapids 37Menominee 15 20 17 6 — 58

Elk Rapids 7 14 5 11 — 37

Menominee: Ta. Theuerkauf 16, Tr. Theuerkauf 16, Butler 10, Coduti 8, Beal 4, Schultz 3, Landan Bardowski 1

Elk Rapids: Spencer 12, Somers 7, Kerfoot 6, Bolde 4, Hilley 4, Jayden Hresko 2, Brendan Shockley 2