The seniors included the two earning the highest awards for the Sentinels, Ford Richardson and Connor Fierstine being elected to the GNC First Team.

The lone non-senior, junior Brody Clements, earned a berth on the Second Team.

And seniors Pavel McCutcheon and Halen McCollum were placed on the GNC’s honorable mention list.

Richardson averaged 15.0 points per game and Fierstine 14 ppg, with Richardson also nabbing five rebounds and five assists an outing, and Fierstine seven rebounds per contest while shooting 81% on free throws.

Clements averaged 12 points, six rebounds and six assists each game, while McCutcheon was at eight points and three rebounds and McCutcheon at six points and six rebounds each outing.

Marquette finished its season at 18-8 overall and 6-2 for second place in the GNC. The Sentinels won their always-rugged MHSAA Division 1 district championship and reached the D-1 regional title game before bowing out to Rockford 58-39 on March 5.

MSHS had earlier tourney victories over Traverse City Central, Traverse City West and Mount Pleasant.

Marquette’s only conference losses were to Menominee, which won the league at 7-1 and was 23-5 overall, making it to the MHSAA Division 3 semifinals in East Lansing, losing to the Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac 78-66 on March 12.

The Sentinels also chalked up regular-season wins over Lower Peninsula opponents Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Harbor Beach.

From left in white uniforms, Marquette’s Connor Fierstine, Brody Clements and Halen McCollum line up for an inbounds pass during an MHSAA Division 1 district semifinal game played against Traverse City Central at the Barb Crill Gymnasium in Marquette on Feb. 25. (Photo courtesy of Cara Kamps)

With its conference title, Menominee was named GNC Team of the Year, Sam Larson the Coach of the Year and senior Tanner Theuerkauf as Player of the Year.

The other major award was won by Kingsford senior Jack Kriegl as Defensive Player of the Year.

The league’s JV championship was shared by Gladstone and Escanaba, each with 6-2 records.

Here are the other GNC honorees, with year and school:

First Team — Lonnie Davey, jr., Gladstone; Jack Kriegl, sr., Kingsford; Darrent Butler, sr., Menominee

Second Team — Owen Olkkonen, sr., Kingsford; Alex Prins, soph., Gladstone; Talan Woods, jr., Menominee; Jett Buckley, jr., Kingsford

Special mention — Will Ingraham, soph., Gladstone; Hayven Sandoval-Nolde, jr., Escanaba; Taylor Asgaard, sr., Escanaba; Dylan Beal, jr., Menominee; Lenny Peacock, sr., Escanaba; Braden Cooper, sr., Escanaba

Honorable mention — Gaige Sorenson, jr., Kingsford; Jack Schultz, sr., Menominee; Nathan Komp, sr., Menominee

Story contents based on an email received from Menominee head boys basketball coach and athletic director Samuel Larson. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.