GAYLORD, Mich. — Momentum swung back and forth like a pendulum in Tuesday’s MHSAA Division 3 State quarterfinal matchup between the Menominee and McBain boys basketball teams, with the outcome in doubt until the final whistle blew.
With Menominee (20-7) trailing by two, Trevor Theuerkauf hit coast-to-coast layup and drew a foul in the process but was unable to convert the and-1 free throw, leaving the score deadlocked at 49-49.
After Tanner Theuerkauf was called for a foul, Ben Rodenbaugh stepped up the foul line and knocked down one of his two ensuing free throws to put McBain on top by one with 16 seconds left to play.
Fourteen seconds later, Clayton Heuker punched the Ramblers’ ticket to the Breslin Center with one final free throw, as McBain outlasted the Maroons 51-49.
“We came into the game knowing we would have to be really scrappy to try and offset the height and size differential in this game. I thought our guys responded to that challenge extremely well for the majority of the game,” Menominee coach Sam Larson said. “ We wanted to try to attack the big guy (Evan Haverkamp), but also knew that we were going to have to knock down some open looks from outside. I thought we battled our tails off all game long, we came up one possession short down the stretch, and sometimes that’s the game of basketball.”
Tuesday’s quarterfinal tilt featured five ties and six lead changes, as both teams jockeyed for position in a closely-fought first half.
McBain (25-2) opened up a 7-2 lead to start the first quarter before back-to-back 3-pointers from Eli Beal and Connor Coduti nudged the Maroons on top by one.
Carson Murphy and Tanner Theuerkauf traded buckets as the lead changed hands on consecutive possessions before Darrent Butler drilled a triple of his own to make it a 13-9 game in favor of Menominee.
Claydon Ingleright splashed in a trey of his own as the Ramblers pulled within one to close out the frame before McBain began the second quarter on a 10-0 run, seizing a nine-point cushion in the process.
Trevor Theuerkauf and Coduti both knocked down 3-pointers as Menominee battled back to take a three-point advantage before Rodenbaugh sank a putback basket to trim the Maroons’ lead to 27-26 at halftime.
Evan Haverkamp kicked off the second half on a personal 4-0 run as the Ramblers jumped ahead 30-27, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Trevor Theurkauf and a pair of free throws by his younger brother, Tanner, gave the Maroons a five-point cushion.
Havercamp poured in all seven of McBain’s points in the third quarter, including a successful and-1 play to pull the Ramblers within two entering the fourth quarter.
Rodenbaugh hit a free throw to knot the score up at 38-38 before a technical foul on Beal sent him back to the charity stripe, where he knocked down one of the two free throws to give McBain a one-point edge.
McBain led by as much as five late until a successful three-point play by Tanner Theurkauf pulled Menominee within two with 52 seconds left to play.
Menominee attempted to counter the Ramblers’ size advantage with long-range shooting, but the Maroons went 9-32 (28 percent) on 3-point attempts.
McBain shot just 17 percent from deep but controlled the paint to the tune of 32 points down low compared to 14 for the Maroons. The Ramblers also won the rebounding battle 34-23, with McBain hauling in as many defensive boards as Menominee collected in total.
“Our season average from the 3-point line is 35 percent. If we just have an average shooting night, we win this game comfortably, but we didn’t,” Larson said. “You have to tip your cap to McBain for making enough plays down the stretch to get the job done. That is a very physical and well-coached team.”
Trevor Theuerkauf had three treys of his own en route to a game-high 15 points. Tanner Theuerkauf finished with 13, Coduti added 12, while Beal, Butler and Landan Bardowski all collected three.
Haverkamp was the Ramblers’ leading scorer with 13 points. Ingleright backed him up with 11, Rodenbaugh pitched nine, Heuker tallied seven and Murphy notched six.
For Menominee, Tuesday’s game marked the final time on the court for seniors Trevor Theuerkauf, Beal, Bardowski, Coduti, Gable Buck and Tyler Smith, a fact Larson was emotional over afterwards.
“The crushing part for me is hearing that final buzzer sound for seven amazing seniors. I know how bad they wanted this game, and I know how bad it hurt for it to be over for them. I am continuously thankful to have the opportunity to coach guys like this year after year, and this class was one of the best,” he said. “Their competitive drive, passion for winning, and dignified approach to the game is a great example for our younger guys to look up to and try to emulate.”
“They have been a part of one of the most successful stretches of basketball in Menominee history. All our staff could tell them after the game finished was how proud of them we were and how thankful we were to be able to coach them.”
McBain 51, Menominee 49
McBain 12 14 7 18 — 51
Menominee 13 14 8 14 — 49
McBain: Haverkamp 13, Ingleright 11, Rodenbaugh 9, Heuker 7, Carson Murphy 6, Aidan Koetje 5
Menominee: Tr. Theuerkauf 15, Ta. Theuerkauf 13, Coduti 12, Bardowski 3, Beal 3, Butler 3
Most Popular
Comments / 0