Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Barneveld’s Whitish player of year; Verona’s Murphy top coach

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Hannah Whitish helped lead Barneveld’s girls basketball team to new heights with dominating, all-around play.

It’s how Whitish carried herself off the floor that especially impressed coach Doug Pickarts.

Whitish was named The Associated Press’ Wisconsin girls player of the year on Thursday. The senior won two state titles in her fouryear career.

Angie Murphy is coach of the year after guiding Verona to its first state championsh­ip.

Barneveld lost in its trip to the finals after falling to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the Division 5 title game. But Whitish and her fellow seniors will leave behind a record of success.

Barneveld won state crowns in 2014 and 2015. The school lost just four games during Whitish’s career — all to rival Assumption.

“God gave her great athletic ability,” Pickarts said. “What Hannah also has is a great work ethic.”

For Whitish, winning the first state title in her sophomore season set a new standard.

“After that gold ball, it’s an expectatio­n,” Whitish said.

She still works out 90 minutes each day, even in the offseason. Lately, the schedule calls for 45 minutes of cone work and shooting drills, followed by 45 minutes of lifting and running.

“It’s pretty weird every day I’m in the gym, when I’m shooting around (knowing) there’s never going to be that Barneveld communityp­acked gym anymore,” Whitish said.

Lately, it’s more about getting ready for college basketball with Whitish headed to Nebraska this fall.

A 5-foot-9 point guard, Whitish hit nearly 50% from three-point range and worked hard on defense.

“Truly a great kid; I think she’s even a better person than she is a basketball player,” Pickarts said. “In her career . . . four state championsh­ip games. That’s remarkable what this kid has done.”

For Murphy, Verona’s win in the title game was even more exhilarati­ng.

“A feeling like none other,” Murphy said. “My best sports memory in my life.”

Murphy said the coach-ofthe-year honor is a milestone that she shares with players past and present, along with her assistants and everyone else involved with the team.

Off the court, the program has had to cope in recent years with the deaths of two former players, as well as the husband of an assistant coach.

This season ended with hope for the future. Murphy is already getting ready for next year. She enjoyed watching her players develop, “do it the right way and buy in,” she said.

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