MUNISING — Without holding a full-contact practice yet this season, Munising boys varsity basketball coach Terry Kienitz was pleasantly surprised with how well his Mustangs played Monday night.

MHS opened its season at home with a 75-41 victory over Rapid River in a Skyline Central Conference game.

“When practice started up again, with no contact, on Jan. 16, our school district closed down,” Kienitz said. “So we were two weeks behind everyone else. We’ve had six practices, all no-contact.

“It was a fairly close game in the first half, then in the second half, we kind of figured out our defense.”

Munising turned a 36-26 halftime game into a 34-point rout by allowing just 15 points in the final two quarters.

“The guys are in a lot better basketball shape than I expected,” Kienitz said. “That was important as we were trying to push the ball upcourt.”

Mustangs junior Jesse Duran led all players with 20 points, while senior teammate Sam Brown and sophomore Kane Nebel added 16 apiece.

Reese Dawley paced the Rockets with 11 points, while Matt Snay had 10.

Munising also won the JV game, 54-39.

The Mustangs keep busy trying to get in as many games as they can before the MHSAA district tournament starts in six weeks on March 23.

MHS hosts Manistique in a nonconference game at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, while Munising goes to North Central for its first road game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Mustangs are scheduled to play eight games by the end of this month.

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