×

Three more wins away: Jets excited to face Munising in quarterfinal

Jeffers boys basketball coach John Schutz signals to his team during the Division 4 District 98 title game at the Jeffers Gym in Painesdale. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

PAINESDALE — There are only eight teams left in this year’s run to MHSAA Division 4 basketball state championship. Interestingly, two of them are in the Upper Peninsula – no less than 150 miles away from each other.

Even more ironic is the fact that both teams have just one loss on the season. However, that stat will come to an end Tuesday as the Munising Mustangs (24-1) tip off against the Jeffers Jets (25-1) in quarterfinal action at Negaunee’s Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium 7 p.m.

“It should be a good game,” said Jeffers coach John Schutz. “In what I have seen of them (on film), they look similar in size and style of play.”

This is Schutz’s fourth year as coach of the varsity squad, and, by far, it’s been his best. The Jets made school history by winning their first regional basketball title just under a week ago. They defeated Stephenson by a score of 79-31 for that title.

“I believe the basketball team had gotten to the regional game twice before in 2007 and 1966, but did not win it,” said Schutz, who was named the Copper Mountain Conference Coach of the Year. “So, this is unchartered territory for us, and we are certainly enjoying the ride.”

After a regular season that saw just one loss, to Escanaba 72-68 in overtime, the Jets downed the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes 74-57 for the District 98 title. They scrapped past Ironwood 62-60 in the regional semifinal before cruising past Stephenson, who had defeated North Central to win their district championship, for the Region 25 title.

What has been the Jets’ key to success this season? Schutz says it is the fact that his boys are like family on and off the court.

“On the court, I do not have just one guy who can score, but a lineup that can,” he said. “They pick each other up; they know each other better than anyone as they’ve been playing together for many years.”

The Jeffers boys live up to their name as they like to play fast. They average around 76 points per game.

Junior Levi Frahm is their top shooter with an average of 21 points per game. Not only was Frahm named the 2023 Copper Mountain Conference Player of the Year, but teammates Tavin Larson, a senior, and Ashton Kunishige, also a senior, joined him as Co-Defensive Players of the Year honors.

In scouting Munising, Schutz said that they have two big guards who handle to ball well.

“They also play up tempo, but not like us,” he added. “The can push when they have to and slow the ball down as well. It looks like it will be a similar matchup.”

While the 2022-23 Jets have already set the bar as members of their division’s elite eight, Schutz said they want more.

“We don’t want to be done,” he said. “We want to go all they way, and hopefully we are ready for that.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today