That seems fitting for the conference champion Sentinels, who compiled records of 20-4 overall and a perfect 8-0 in league play.

Kingsford was runner-up at 6-2 and Menominee third at 4-4; both also had 20-win seasons in this competitive conference with the Flivvers at 21-5 and Maroons at 20-7.

Escanaba and Gladstone were each 1-7 in the GNC but had 10-win seasons, Esky 10-13 and the Braves 10-14.

MSHS head coach Rich Ledy was named Coach of the Year, while Sentinels’ junior forward Jacob MacPhee — that means he’s coming back next year — was voted Player of the Year by the league’s coaches at their late February meeting.

Marquette's Jacob MacPhee, second from left, is fouled by Negaunee's Brady Mager, center partially hidden, as MacPhee goes up for a shot during their high school boys basketball game played at the Barb Grill Gymnasium in Marquette on Feb. 15. Also in on the play are, from left, Negaunee's Gavin Saunders and Kyle Waterman and  Marquette's Jack Quinnell. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Three of the other five Marquette players honored are also not seniors, giving Ledy a solid and deep pool of talent to start with next season.

They include junior guards Jaxon Jurmu, who was named to the league’s First Team, and Kyler Sager, who made the Second Team.

Two MSHS seniors earned Special Mention — forward Jack Quinnell and guard Wyatt Lakenen — while the youngest of these honorees, sophomore center Connor Fierstine, made the Honorable Mention list.

The GNC’s other major award went to Kingsford junior guard Gavin Grondin as Defensive Player of the Year.

Here are the other league honorees, with year, position and school:

Ishpeming’s Ben Rubick, center, is trapped by Marquette’s Jaxon Jurmu, left, and Kyler Sager as the Hematites player looks to make a pass in the third quarter of their high school boys basketball game played at the Barb Crill Gymnasium at Marquette Senior High School on Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

First Team — Gavin Grondin, junior guard, Kingsford; Tanner Theuerkauf, sophomore forward, Menominee; Trevor Theuerkauf, senior guard, Menominee; Drake Johnson, senior forward, Gladstone

Second Team — Shane Wallin, senior guard, Escanaba; Kaden Gibbs, senior guard, Gladstone; Cardel Moton, senior guard/forward, Kingsford; Connor Coduti, senior forward, Menominee

Special Mention — Cody Noel, junior forward/center, Escanaba; Jacob Markworth, senior center, Kingsford; Eli Beal, senior forward, Menominee

Honorable Mention — Nick Matthews, senior guard, Gladstone; Darrent Butler, sophomore guard, Menominee; David Romps, senior guard, Escanaba; Javon Stevenson, junior forward, Escanaba

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

Marquette Senior High School head coach Rich Ledy shouts out instructions to his team early in the fourth quarter of a high school boys basketball game played against Ishpeming in the Barb Crill Gymnasium at Marquette Senior High School on Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)