Purgolders get the job done
WEST ALLIS – It wasn’t so much the outside shooting that stuck out to Milwaukee Washington coach Freddie Reilly on Saturday, although his Purgolders had put up more three-pointers than usual and hit them at crucial times.
It wasn’t the free throws, either, as important as they were.
“My guys tonight, I saw a will in them that I haven’t seen all year,” Riley said.
Washington had just fought off Pewaukee, 77-67, in a WIAA Division 2 boys basketball sectional final, and amid the hugs and handshakes – including Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett – Riley was fighting back tears with limited success.
“This was a goal they set out from the beginning of the year,” he continued, “and to see this manifest at the end to give them another opportunity to go to Madison and rewrite this differently than we did last year … it’s awesome.”
The Purgolders (23-3), the top team in the Division 2 area rankings and third-ranked team in the state coaches poll, earned the school’s 12th trip to the state tournament and third in 10 years. They have won the title four times most recently in 2000, the year most of this season’s senior class was born.
A pair of juniors led the way. Guard / forward Deontay Long finished with 28 points despite sitting for nearly 71⁄2 minutes in the second half with four fouls. Guard Johntae Martin finished with 19 points.
Pewaukee (23-4) trailed by as much as 10 points midway through the first half and played from behind for 32 minutes before finally tying at 65-65 with 2:50 left.
But from there on, the Pirates missed
six three-point shots and the Purgolders, got a go-ahead three from Jordan Dismore and hit 9 of 10 free throws. Long had seven of those free throws and was 11 of 13 overall.
“I was just so proud of our kids, from the tip,” Pewaukee coach Mike Basile said. “There were many opportunities for us to fold. I thought we were relentless out there. We played like warriors.
“We had a couple opportunities where we could have made big shots that just didn’t go our way. And we played a damn good team.”
Wright State-bound 6-9 senior Grant Basile, the coach’s son, led the Pirates with 32 points, 14 of those coming from the free-throw line. Guard Jack Gohlke scored 19, including 5 three-pointers, but couldn’t get them to fall late.
Grant Basile also helped slow Washington’s
Michael Foster Jr., a 6-9 freshman who already has committed to Arizona State. He was held to 11 points, seven below his average.
“That’s a heck of a program Coach is building over there,” Riley said. “His son Grant is a phenomenal player.
“Those guys came out and put us to the test tonight. They went inside well, they shot the ball well, they played extremely good defense.”
In Riley's moist eyes, this victory was not only for the players who focused from the first day of practice on returning to state, but also for Riley's family after his aunt Octavia Furge died Friday and for all of the City Conference.
"I'm so proud of our kids and how they represent our district and our community," Riley said. "I'm just proud. I'm proud for the city of Milwaukee."