Muskego's magical season ends in Division 1 state title recreation loss to top-seeded Kimberly – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

ASHWAUBENON – The presentation of the state championship runner-up trophy is often a somber, quieter, unhappy second for a program that got here so near successful a championship.
However for Muskego – a program that had by no means performed on the Resch Center court docket till Friday night time – it was a second that would assist construct a basis and a tradition of success for years to come back for a college seen as a soccer powerhouse.
“For our program to be the primary in historical past to ever be on this place … A) get right here and B) get to the championship recreation, I believe should you would’ve instructed me 4 years in the past I’d have made it to the state championship, I’d’ve instructed you that you just’re mendacity,” Muskego senior Melena Glysch mentioned.
“I would not have believed you. I am simply tremendous thrilled to even have received a ball and I am tremendous grateful to only be on this place within the first place.”
It wasn’t the storybook ending the Warriors had hoped for after a 47-26 loss to top-seeded Kimberly within the Division 1 state title recreation. The Warriors missed 19 of their first 22 shot makes an attempt towards a ruthless Papermakers protection, however nonetheless solely trailed 15-8 at halftime.
That alone signified Muskego basketball this previous season. It is not all the time the prettiest basketball performed, however they’re all the time ready to remain in a recreation by way of sheer grit and toughness.
“We have been in that spot earlier than,” Muskego senior Autumn Dibb mentioned. “I imply, take a look at the sectional closing (towards Kenosha Bradford). We did not make a single shot within the first half. I trusted my teammates. I used to be going to hit Rachel (Agg). I used to be going to hit Molly (Makinen). I used to be going to hit every considered one of my teammates as a result of finally they had been going to fall.”
Dibb wasn’t fallacious within the early portion of the second half. The Warriors virtually outdid their complete first-half offensive manufacturing within the primary three minutes of the second 18 minutes with seven factors, together with a triple from Glysch to trim the Papermakers’ lead again to eight (23-15).
The Warriors acquired it again inside single digits with 6:12 to play after a Riley Hill 3-pointer (34-25), however that is as shut as the competition acquired from that time. Muskego mustered simply 11 scores on 48 complete offensive possessions with 14 turnovers towards a suffocating Papermakers protection.
“I believe we acquired some fairly attractiveness,” Muskego coach Erik Free mentioned when requested about potential fatigue after an emotional win over Traditional 8 Convention rival Arrowhead on Friday within the third encounter between the 2 co-champions.
“I believe I may have in all probability achieved a greater job getting us into some spots or possibly being a bit of bit extra artistic setting children up. It is a fairly resilient group. I do not suppose it was an excessive amount of fatigue. These guys are high-level athletes who’re working year-round. I believe it was extra simply photographs did not fall and Kimberly’s protection was actually good.”
Saturday might not have been Muskego’s night time for celebration and a championship coronation, however there was lots to have fun in Free’s eyes after the very best season in program historical past.
“It is laborious to place into phrases how a lot they imply to us and the way a lot work they put in,” Free mentioned on his six departing seniors, together with Glysch and Dibb. “On the finish of the day, they laid the inspiration for the expectation transferring ahead with groups coming by way of and type of set the usual for us.
“We’re a crew that wishes to be again right here yr in and yr out. They only did an incredible job main by instance, speaking and supporting their groups, being nice in the neighborhood, serving to out, volunteering and the whole lot. It will be not possible for me to place into phrases. I am simply tremendous grateful and the neighborhood is so happy with them, too.”

source