Maki, Mason earn co-MVP honors at U.P. Sports Hall of Fame All Star game

Escanaba graduate Keira Maki (left) and Negaunee graduate Ella Mason (right) pose for a photo with U.P. Sports Hall of Fame secretary Dennis Grall on June 15, 2024 at St. Ignace La Salle High School. Maki and Mason earned co-MVP honors in the 2024 U.P. Sports Hall of Fame All Star game. (Submitted photo Dennis Grall)

ST. IGNACE – For 37 years picking a most valuable player was relatively simple. One player always stood out.

Saturday Ella Mason of Negaunee and Keira Maki of Escanaba both stood out. The two seniors therefore shared most valuable player honors as they pooled their talents to help the East girls overcome a double-digit second-half deficit to boost the East to an 87-83 overtime victory in the opener of the 38th annual U.P. All-Star Classic at LaSalle High School.

Maki, who will play at Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the fall, had 24 points and a dozen rebounds and Mason had 26 points. Maki had 17 points in the second half to help spark the rally.

In the nightcap, Jon Ingalls, playing his final game in St. Ignace, scored a career-best 46 points as the East boys won 110-103. Ingalls, named Mr. Basketball in the Upper Peninsula in April, also had 11 rebounds, eight assists and four steals, with 25 points coming after the intermission..

He was also an all-state selection.

Jenna Maki of Division 4 state champion Ishpeming, also received strong consideration after scoring 26 points for the West girls.

“We didn’t have anything to lose,” Mason said after the game. “We’ve been battling each other for years. It is cool to share (MVP).”

Maki said it was nice to have someone share the load. “Me and Ellen knew we had to be leaders. It felt good to play with her and not to have one leader.”

Ingalls, who will play basketball at Northern Michigan University – where his dad (Doug) also played – had a late basket and a 3-point field goal, said the East “struggled a little bit” to start the game. He said landing MVP honors in his final game at home was “pretty special. We all just won together.”

Coach Doug Ingalls pointed out he was on the losing team for his last four games. “Everybody knows how competitive I am,” he added. “I didn’t want to lose four in a row.”

Prior to the two games, a skills contest was conducted. Andrew Niemi of Westwood, the only entrant in the slam dunk contest, won that event. Grace Kleikamp of Powers North Central won the 3-point girls division and Mason and Perry LeBlanc of Brimley claimed the free-throw contest.

The last three All-Games were held in St. Ignace. The 2025 and 2026 games are tentatively scheduled to be held in Escanaba at Bay de Noc Community College.

The summaries

East girls: Callie Rajala 11, Ceara LeBlanc 2, Chloe May 3, Keira Maki 24,Lucie Ruachova 3, Emersyn Crisp 2, Danielle Lund 6, Ella Mason 26, Autumn Trombley 9, Allison Cece 4.

Girls West: Jenna Maki 26, McKenna Hendrickson 10, Megan Marta 12, Kadie Kaukola 1, Anna Axtell 9, Brooke Stanislawski 3, Grace Kleikamp 3, Jaycee Larson 6, McKenzie Hoffmeyer 3, Danica Shamion 2, Adelyn Swain 0.

East Boys: Cam Peterson 8, Wyatt Demers 14, Jonny Ingalls 46, Nte Koepp 7, Brad VanDamme 7, Nick Halberg 0, Perry LeBlanc 0, Trent Rutter 4, Ethan McLean 11, Drake Johnson 10.

West Boys: Dan Marcotte 5, Connor Cuduti 2, Levi Frahm 0, Shane Wallin 25, Felix Quevedo 1, Matt Schuta 7. Gavom Sanders 0, Andrew Nieimi 15, Gabe Popko 9, Gaven Rintala 11.