Ewen-Trout Creek’s Bree Besonen, right, walls off Concord’s Bradie Lehman during a Division 4 state semifinal game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Besonen was named Division 4 Player of the Year Thursday by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. (Photo courtesy of MHSAA.com)

MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association met earlier this week to select the 2024-25 All -UP Girls Basketball awards.

Of note was the award of Team of the Year going to the Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers in Division 4. The Panthers (27-2) made it all the way to the state finals. It was their first trip there since 1985.

They fell to the Fowler Eagles in the championship game, 53-29, and earning runner-up honors in the process.

Appropriately, their leader Jacky Besonen was named Coach of the Year, and the Player of the Year went to freshman Bree Besonen, her daughter.

Bree Besonen averaged close to 17 points per game and shot an impressive 82% from the free-throw line. She was the team’s floor general as they went on their run in March.

According to her coach, Bree is well deserving of this honor.

“She’s tough to stop on the offensive end,” said Jacky. “She is very crafty, and can go strong with both hands and can hit the outside shot.

“Bree is an excellent defender. She was named our conference’s defensive player of the year and held top scorers to single digits several times this year.”

Also of note was the impressive post-season run of the Calumet Copper Kings (22-6). Their run to the Division 3 semifinals earned them Team of the Year accolades in that division. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest defeated Calumet, 43-38, at the Breslin Center to end their season.

Award winners

Ms. U.P. Basketball: Lillie Johnson, Gladstone

Division 1-3 Player of the Year: Lille Johnson, Gladstone

Division 4 Player of the Year: Bree Besonen, Ewen-Trout Creek

Division 1-2 Team of the Year: Gladstone

Division 3 Team of the Year: Calumet

Division 4 Team of the Year: Ewen-Trout Creek

Division 1-3 Coach of the Year: Andy Cretens, Gladstone

Division 4 Coach of the Year: Jacky Besonen, Ewen-Trout Creek

Dream Team: Bree Besonen, Ewen-Trout Creek; Lillie Johnson. Gladstone; Janessa Eagle, Ishpeming; Aubrey Johnson, Negaunee; Lauren Adams, Norway.

First Team

Divisions 1-3: Piper Bell, Sault Ste. Marie; Eva Gerard, Houghton; Gretel Johnson, Negaunee; Macy Linsenbigler, Iron Mountain; Lexi Olson, Westwood.

Division 4: Jillian Fraser, St. Ignace; Emily Jokela, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Emma Besonen, Ewen-Trout Creek; Irelynd McGeshick, Ewen-Trout Creek; Kara Roberts, Baraga.

Second Team

Divisions 1-3: Brianna Anderson, Marquette; Gianna Coduti, Menominee; Ellie Hainault, Houghton; Marissa Ives, Bark River-Harris; Jackie Kiilunen, Calumet; Peyton Kakkuri, Ishpeming; Grayson LaMarche, Escanaba; Aubrie Moore, Kingsford; Clare O’Donnell, Negaunee; Bailey Strom, Calumet.

Division 4: Addie Bowerman, Munising; Bailey Corcoran, Munising; Addison Cullen, St. Ignace; Brooklyn Dompier, L’Anse; Grace Maule, Carney-Nadeau; Cleo Milkey, Lake Linden-Hubbell; Adria Ruleau, Stephenson; Allie Whalen, Newberry; Elsie Williams, Forest Park; Kwynn Voskuhl, L’Anse.

Special Mention

Divisions 1-3: Aubree Blackburn, Marquette; Makayla Delmont, Gwinn; Emma Zawada, Bark River-Harris; Hanna Vaughn, Ironwood; Keira Waterman, Negaunee.

Division 4: Emery Chynoweth, Hancock; Mya Hendrickson, Baraga; Lauren Jungwirth, North Dickinson; Mariska Laurila, Carney-Nadeau; Mylee Londo, L’Anse; Audrey Stone, Bessemer.

Honorable Mention

Divisions 1-3: Lexi Curran, Marquette; Taylor Heinonen, Jeffers; Katey Lamb, Escanaba; Lexi Marineau, Menominee; Mia Nordstrom, Jeffers; Jaelyn Novascone, Ironwood; Katlin Smith, West Iron County.

Division 4: Kenly Anderson, Wakefield-Marenisco; Dayne Behning, Munising; Hali Butkovich, Engadine; Addison Carrick, Brimley; Emma Choronzy, Wakefield-Marenisco; Cadence Cullen, St. Ignace; Katie Halberg, St. Ignace; Gracie Johnson, Newberry; Melissa Johnson, Stephenson; Sammy Johnson, Superior Central; Raina Ledzian, North Dickinson; Evelyn Moilanen, Dollar Bay; Brooke Portice, Pickford; Caragan Thill, Big Bay de Noc; Makenna Smith, Cedarville-DeTour; Alyson Steinbrecher, North Dickinson; Emma Sundling, Rapid River; Avery Visnaw, St. Ignace.