Munising’s Kane Nebel, center, is double-teamed by Jeffers’ Ashton Kunishige, left, and Levi Frahm during their MHSAA Division 4 quarterfinal boys basketball game played at Lakeview Memorial Gymnasium in Negaunee on March 21. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
ST. IGNACE — Despite limited playing time, Kane Nebel had a sensational all-star performance here at LaSalle High School.
The recent Munising High School graduate added to his glowing resume with a triple-double effort on Saturday, just days after returning from a family cruise to Greece.
Nebel, who led the Mustangs to their first-in-school-history MHSAA Division 4 state basketball championship in March, more than lived up to his all-state and Mr. Upper Peninsula Basketball accolades with a rarity in all-star circles, accumulating a triple-double to help the East boys upend the West 101-91 in the 37th U.P. All-Star Classic.
Nebel finished with game highs of 23 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to earn MVP honors.
East teammate Connor Florenski of North Central contributed a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Nebel’s Munising teammate Cully Trzeciak added five points to the East effort.
Ishpeming’s Griffin Argall was the West team’s No. 2 scorer with 13 points, sharing that total with Ashton Kunishige of Jeffers as Joey Colavecchi of Iron Mountain led their team with 20 points.
In addition, for the West, the Hematites’ Alex Sundberg scored eight points and a third Ishpeming cager, A.J. Prosser, scored five. Also from the area, Shawn Gibbons of L’Anse scored three points.
In the girls game that opened this basketball doubleheader, the East won 76-74 as the winning team’s Madison Thurmes of Pickford was chosen girls MVP after scoring a game-high 18 points, highlighted by some deadly 3-point shooting.
East teammate Meghan MacPhee of Marquette added eight points and Lena Pleaugh of Gwinn scored three.
Baraga’s Kylie Michaelson was the West team’s second-leading scorer with 12 points, while Vikings’ teammate Corina Jahfetson had two. The West was led by Meghan Trewhella of Houghton with 16 points, while Ashlea Datto of Dollar Bay was their other double-figures scorer with 10.
There were several area coaches who mentored these players during the pair of all-star encounters, including Mike O’Donnell of Negaunee and Tyler Larson of Baraga sharing duties with the East girls team, while Terry Kienitz of Munising joined Doug Ingalls of the local St. Igance squad headed up the East boys unit.
Prior to the all-star doubleheader, several skills contests were held that included all-star players. Trewhella won the girls’ free throw event, while Pleaugh won the girls’ 3-point shooting division. Among the boys, Kunishige took the 3-point shooting event and Carter Oshelski of Sault Ste. Marie won the slam-dunk contest.
Nebel and fellow all-stars Carney Salo of Escanaba and Leah French of Engadine were recipients of U.P. Sports Hall of Fame scholarships presented in May. Philip Nelson of Negaunee also received a scholarship during the 51st annual UPSHF induction banquet.
Proceeds from the game help fund the scholarship program, which began in 1997.
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