'They work hard for 32 minutes every night': Mackinaw City girls reflect on another NLC title

MACKINAW CITY – Gracie Beauchamp remembered the talk back in the summer.

So did Grace Sroka.

Really, anybody associated with the Mackinaw City girls basketball program heard it.

What they heard was the notion that the Comets – who graduated four of five starters, all standouts – would see their Northern Lakes Conference dominance end in 2023-24.

Several months later, this Mackinaw City team – behind hard work, grit and mental toughness – once more plowed through the NLC and captured a sixth consecutive unbeaten conference season, which culminated with a home rout over Alanson on senior night last week.

“It means a lot to me because last year they had a really successful team,” Sroka said following the win. “I think this year a lot of people were questioning how good we were going to be in basketball, so it was good to be a part of this.”

NUMBER 6: Mackinaw City girls seal sixth consecutive undefeated NLC basketball campaign

FEB. 15 ROUNDUP: Inland Lakes teams capture wins, Onaway boys slip in Ski Valley Conference road showdown

The Comets are now an incredible 73-0 in NLC play over the last six seasons. But this season didn’t come without a little pressure for Mackinaw City, which didn’t want to be the ones to have the streak end. Instead, they stood up and went through the obstacles each night.

“There was a lot of pressure,” Beauchamp said. “The games against (Burt Lakes Northern Michigan Christian Academy) and Ellsworth were close, and even Harbor Light, it was a little stressful at times. There was a little pressure to keep it going from the previous years.”

MARLEY SZYMONIAK: 'Fearless' Marley Szymoniak having breakthrough season with Onaway girls basketball

JOSIAH BRABSON: Through hard work and toughness, Brabson develops into star with NMCA boys basketball

Beauchamp, along with senior twin sister Jersey, were the only two key returning contributors from last season’s squad that won a first-ever regional crown. This winter, the Beauchamp twins have brilliantly led and mentored a young group of Comets who didn’t have much prior varsity experience.

“I can’t emphasize enough about how much this team comes down to the Beauchamp twins and building relationships with these younger girls and giving them the confidence to play basketball,” Mackinaw City coach Jake Huffman said. “I look at how they’ve come together as a group, and that doesn’t happen without good senior leadership.”

Gracie and Jersey have provided consistency for the Comets all season long, but Mackinaw City’s supporting cast shouldn’t be overlooked. Sroka, who didn’t play the previous two years, returned to provide depth at the guard spot, while sophomore Kerry-Ann Ming has filled in nicely at the center position. Mackinaw City also features an emerging star in freshman Kenzlie Currie, who’s shown an ability to knock down outside shots, as well as fellow freshman Rian Esper, a relentless defender who’s caused problems for opponents.

When you add that talent and chemistry all up, it makes sense why the Comets keep winning.

“Kenzlie (Currie) has grown a lot as a player over the course of the year, she’s getting more confident,” Huffman said. “I see the same things Kerry-Ann (Ming) is doing defensively, and she’s starting to finish at the basket, and the work that Grace Sroka puts in. Grace has been a huge piece of this puzzle. Rian (Esper) is my next Raeann Hingston. You’ve got to have a player who will scrap and lock up, and she plays so hard defensively, and she’s a good shooter.

“Every one of those girls has stepped up and played a role for the team.”

There’s still more work left to be done for the Comets, who are aiming for a district title in March. What should benefit Mackinaw City is something Huffman’s noticed throughout the season.

“They work hard for 32 minutes every night,” Huffman said. “There’s been probably seven games this year that we’ve played that could’ve went either way, that I felt the difference in the game was we just outworked the team towards the end, and that’s how we got those (wins). It’s been a lot of fun to coach.”

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinaw City girls basketball reflects on winning sixth straight NLC title