Pewaukee teammates join forces one last time on hoops court
WISCONSIN DELLS – A drive off the left wing, a kick-out to the top, a swing pass to the nearby left corner for an open three-pointer, swish.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
For Lia Chudzik and Sarah Newcomer, the uniforms in the South's 7458 victory over the North in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 2 All-Star Game weren't the familiar colors of the 2021-22 state runner-up Pewaukee Pirates. But the on-court chemistry was the same as it ever was for a few possessions in their final game together Wednesday.
“It was so fun to be able to do this just one more time, one more game together,” said Chudzik, who is committed to Saint Xavier in Chicago. “We've been playing together since fifth grade, so to have one more together in this sort of setting where people are seeing how great our connection is on the floor is really fun to do.”
The duo, along with Pius XI teammates Mya Moore and Tori Kostuck, and some hot perimeter shooting from Waukesha West's Ashlyn Yow, helped the South turn a 39-34 halftime deficit into a 16-point victory in the fourth of five games at the JustAGame Fieldhouse.
“It was special to have that one last chance, especially because we were out on the court quite a bit together, which was really cool,” said Newcomer, who will play at Northern Michigan.
Chudzik admitted she was uncertain what to expect of the experience heading into the game, but once she arrived with her good friend Newcomer, the basketballs started bouncing, the conversations with new teammates started happening and the uncertainties turned into enjoyable memories.
“I've always loved playing with Sarah. She's my shooter, my scorer,” Chudzik said. “I gotta know where she is at all times, and then to be able to come here and show that off, show everybody that I always know where Sarah is, and I know that if I can hit her right, she's gonna have a great shot to score.”
“It doesn't really matter the setting or team. If we're out there together, it's always gonna be like that,” Newcomer added.
The game brought to and end of the duo's high school careers and the conclusion of a journey that started long before they helped the Pirates qualify for two of the last three state girls basketball tournaments.
“Since we've been in fourth, fifth grade, we've been going to girls varsity basketball games and watching our favorite players,” Chudzik said. “Our favorite players were there at the youth camps cheering us on and knowing us by name, and then when we go to their games to cheer them on, they know us by name too. It's just keeping that tradition going.
“I was talking to some of the coaches here before. They said, ‘Pewaukee doesn't rebuild, they reload (laughs).' You have to keep that connection and keep the girls wanting to come, wanting to get better so they can be you someday. It's just really cool that Pewaukee has that.”
For Newcomer, her greater Milwaukee roots will be on full display at Northern Michigan next season when she joins a roster that includes former Pirate Vivianne Jende, former South Milwaukee guard Kayla Tierney and former Catholic Memorial star Alyssa Nimz.
“I just had to team up with her again,” Newcomer said with a laugh as she pointed to Jende. a 2020 Pewaukee graduate. “(Pewaukee) as the years go along, they get closer and closer. It's just home. The community that surrounds us is amazing. There's nothing like that.”
Chudzik echoed Newcomer's thoughts, emphasizing the importance of keeping the line moving for the program as they move forward with their own careers.
“Pewaukee has a great culture that we were able to just walk into what the upperclassmen already built,” she said. “We wanted to keep that going because of how good of an experience that made ours and we just want everyone else that comes through our program to have that exact same one.”