Spartans survive intense showdown with Warhawks
ASHWAUBENON – The bracket labeled Friday night’s Division 1 WIAA girls state showdown between topseed Brookfield East Spartans and the fourth-seed Germantown Warhawks as a semifinal, but make no mistake, this was a de facto state championship, full of the tension, superstars and final minute madness such a game entails.
In the end, it was the Spartans celebrating mid-court, after a 65-60 nailbiter that will send them to the state title game Saturday.
“Every timeout, every media timeout, they just had this air of confidence,” Brookfield East head coach Tyler Saxton said of his team. “Whether it’s in life or basketball, that’s a skill, to not ever think you’re out of anything.”
It took nearly two minutes of game time to get the scoring started, but once the top was off the basket, both teams began pouring it in, with Spartans freshman guard Maya Kovacic leading all scorers, finishing with 21 points. It was also Kovacic who drew the assignment of guarding Germantown’s star, KK Arnold, a job Saxton called “a load.”
From the outset, Brookfield East relied on lightening speed ball movement and living at the three-point line. But if you live by the three, you can die by the three, and for a large portion, that seemed to be the Spartans fate. They went 3 of 15 from downtown in the first half and Germantown rode a healthy diet of Arnold’s offense and defense, heading to the locker room at half with a 32-23 lead.
Brookfield East defeated Germantown twice during the regular season, part of the reason the Warhawks were a four-seed coming into the state semifinals. But Germantown arrived at state with a new game plan, one that admittedly took Brookfield East time to adjust around.
Germantown head coach Matt Stuve’s 1-3-1 defense forced 19 turnovers by Brookfield East.
With a trip to the state title game on the line though, the Spartans found their deep shot again, going 4 of 7 from beyond the line in the final five and a half minutes. No shot was bigger than that from Annika Pluemer.
With 0:53 showing on the clock, Brookfield East’s Addison Doyle kicked it out to Pluemer. The second she rose to take the shot, her coach knew it was a make. He knew because he’d seen it a thousand times before, taking rep after rep in preparation.
“It was a perfect pass from Addy, straight on shot and into my pocket,” said Pluemer. “I just had to be confident…I just relied on just instinct and mechanics and everything everyone’s taught me…as long as I shoot with confidence, I’m good.”
Pluemer’s three gave the Spartans a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Next on the docket, the actual state championship, Saturday night.