Zylka spreads the ball around for Oak Creek
It was both fitting and ironic to see Haley Zylka with a career-high 23 points in Oak Creek’s sectional final victory over Milwaukee King last week.
Ironic because the senior guard is more of a distributor than a scorer. Fitting because with the Knights, you really never know who is going to be the star of the day.
For Zylka, it was just the fifth time she scored in double digits in a game this season.
“We go as she goes,” said Oak Creek coach Steve Hluchnik. “If things go bad, she keeps us together. She sees the floor like no one I’ve coached.”
The Knights need a player like that for a team like this. Zylka averages six assists per game, spreading the ball around to a team with eight players averaging at least 4.7 points per game. Six of them have led the team in scoring this season.
The most consistent of that bunch have been senior Kassandra Bartek (12.9 ppg) and junior Maddie Gard (11.2 ppg), who have led the team in scoring 10 times each. Next in line is senior Lea Finn (9.3) with four. All three are shooting better than 35% from three-point range.
Oak Creek won its sixth straight Southeast Conference title and extended its league winning streak to 84 games.
Oak Creek at a glance
Coach: Steve Hluchnik, ninth season (192-41).
Record: 24-2, 14-0 Southeast (first). Key players: Kassandra Bartek, 5-10, sr., W, 12.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg; Maddie Gard, 5-9, jr., W, 11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg; Lea Finn, 6-0, sr., P, 9.3 ppg, 4 rpg; Corine Kurz, 5-11, sr., P, 6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg; Katie Gard, 5-9, jr., W, 5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Haley Zylka, 5-5, sr., G, 5.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 6 apg; Jenna Dankert, 5-9, sr., P, 4.7 ppg, 3 rpg; Paige Cornale, 5-10, sr., G, 4.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.8 apg; Abby Lownik, 5-6, sr., W, 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg.