Duo propels Thomas More
The first impressions Brianna Flayter and Taylor Kirby made on each other weren’t flattering.
“I don’t know if we liked each other,” Kirby said.
“We didn’t,” Flayter added. Thank goodness first impressions don’t always last.
St. Thomas More’s girls basketball standouts have had a long time to grow on each other. Starters since they were freshmen, the two gradually formed a partnership that paid off this year. After posting their first winning seasons in at least 15 years, the Cavaliers upset two top-five teams in the playoffs to earn the school first trip to the WIAA state tournament.
Leading the charge has been the dynamic duo of Flayter, a 5-foot-9 guard, and Kirby, a 6-1 forward. Basketball brought them together.
“We had a common thing,” Kirby said. “And then we both realized, she’s good and she’s good, I guess we’ve got to work together to figure it out.”
The Cavaliers (21-5) will face Amherst (25-1) in a Division 3 semifinal at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.
The appearance is the culmination of four years of work for Kirby and Flayter.
During their first three years, the most wins they had in a season was 12 in their freshman year. However last year’s 10-14 mark came during an injury-marred season that masked the team’s potential.
“We used it sort of as a chip,” Thomas More coach Brian Krysiak said. “I don’t think a lot of people thought we could be as good as we were, but we believed it. We really did..”
Kirby and Flayter were an ideal tandem to lead the way. In Flayter, they had a point guard determined to share the ball so much that coaches still have to encourage her to shoot. In Kirby, they have an athletic inside presence who backs down from no one.
Flayter, who will play college back at NAIA St. Xavier in Chicago, is averaging a team-high 15.5 points with 6.4 rebounds and three assists per game. Kirby, who will play at Division II Maryville in Missouri, ranks second in scoring (12.2 ppg.) and averages about 7.2 rebounds per game.
Even when it comes to leadership styles, they’ve been an ideal fit.
“Taylor is definitely more of a fiery leader. She’s going to get after kids if they’re not playing up to par and kind of get on them,” Krysiak said. “Bri leads more by example.
“When those two turn it up, everyone on the team looks at them goes, it’s time.”
Thomas More’s five losses are the most of any team in the bracket, but it earned a No. 3 seed ahead of Wisconsin Dells (25-1) possibly because of its strength of schedule. Three of the Cavaliers’ losses came to conference champions: West Allis Hale (Greater Metro), Slinger (North Shore) and Martin Luther (Metro Classic).
And the Cavaliers have been underrated all season.
In the sectional semifinal, Thomas More, which didn't receive mention in either state poll, scored a 48-41 victory over Kettle Moraine Lutheran, the No. 5 team in the Division according to The Associated Press, and the No. 4 team in the wissports.net coaches poll.
In sectional final, the Cavaliers led previously undefeated Laconia, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, for almost the entire game and won, 5340.
Next up is Amherst, which is ranked third in both polls. We should know better at the point than to doubt the Cavaliers.
“They’ve really turned me from a coach into a fan of this team,” Krysiak said. “I love watching us play. I got into every game with the believe that we’re going to win. … Being around these kids, they make you believe.”
St. Thomas More at a glance
Coach: Brian Krysiak, 14th season (124-194).
Record: 21-5, 13-3 Metro Classic (tied for second).
Key players: Brianna Flayter, 5-9, sr., G, 15.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3 apg; Taylor Kirby, 6-1, sr., F, 12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.9 apg; Kya Gordon, 5-7, soph., G, 9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg; Lindsay Kirby, 5-9, fr., G, 9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg; Ellie Hoffmann, 5-10, sr., F, 3.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg; Karina Johnson, 5-7, jr., G, 2.8 ppg, 1 rpg; Caitlin Cleary, 5-8, soph., F, 2 ppg, 2.8 rpg.