MUNISING — Junior Cade Contreras hit a pair of clutch shots, including one at the buzzer, to lift the Munising High School boys basketball team to a 58-57 win over Big Bay de Noc on Monday night.

First, Contreras hit a 3-pointer with about 25 to 30 seconds left to pull the Mustangs within two, 56-54, according to MHS head coach Terry Kienitz.

Just a few seconds earlier, the Black Bears made a shot that had given them a relatively comfortable five-point lead.

Following the triple, Munising pressed Big Bay, but the Bears broke it and forced the Mustangs to foul. Eric Johnson, who with twin brother Tyler make an imposing 6-foot-5 tandem, made one free throw to put Big Bay back up 57-54.

Munising got a basket back by a player Kienitz couldn’t identify, making it 57-56, while Big Bay was again fouled and missed both free throw chances with 3.9 seconds to go.

That set up Contreras for the game-winner.

“Contreras took the inbounds pass and used a screen (by a teammate) to drive the lane and shoot a floater from about six feet (out),” Kienitz said. “The ball bounced two or three times on the rim before it fell. That was right at the buzzer.”

Contreras scored 14 points, while junior teammate Alec Blank finished with team highs of 18 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Anthony Mattson also contributed 16 points.

Rob Ray paced the Bears with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Eric Johnson added 15 points and Tyler Johnson 14.

On the surface, Munising looked like a heavy favorite in this Skyline Central Conference game, with the Mustangs improving to 12-2 overall and 8-2 in league while Big Bay is just 1-14 and 0-10 in the Skyline.

But Kienitz said the Johnson brothers affected his shorter team’s ability to drive the lane like his players like to do. It led to the Bears jumping out to a 14-6 lead after one quarter.

Pushing the transition game more in the second period, the Mustangs came back to take a 27-26 halftime lead, which they extended to 42-36 by the end of the third quarter.

Both teams return to action Friday, with Munising hosting Mid Peninsula and Big Bay facing the unenviable task of taking on the state’s No. 1 Class D team, North Central, on the road.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.