Brookfield Central’s Joplin has big night
SUSSEX - The beauty of the Brookfield Central basketball team is simple.
You never know which Lancer will step up and deliver a big performance on any given night, but it seems that just about every game, all that matters in the end is that someone delivers.
Friday evening, in front of a crowd that sold out 90 minutes prior to tip and ripped and roared with every made basket and whistle, with the area's toptwo ranked teams pitted against each other, it was David Joplin's turn to put on a show from the moment the game began.
“First shot, it was on right then,” the Lancers junior forward said. “You get that little feeling. I'm like, 'Yeah, I'm gonna keep shooting.'”
Joplin did just that, raining down 6 three-pointers and scoring 36 points as Brookfield Central swept the regularseason series against Hamilton with a 78-73 win on the Chargers' home court.
‘We’ve got dudes’
When Hamilton, led by standout forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. made its run late in the second half, it wasn't Joplin who came through with the key shots for the Lancers.
Instead, guards Ben Nau and Andrew Rohde, resigned to a lesser role offensively with Joplin on fire, were the ones to hit threes on consecutive possessions immediately after the Chargers drew within 68-67 with 3:25 to play.
“That's what I love about our team is that we've got dudes,” Wandrey said, referencing his team's ability to have anyone step up at a pivotal moment.
Nau scored 10 points and Rohde had seven. Center Eric Radisevic had 14 with his height posing matchup problems for the Chargers, and forward Malik Abdul-Wahid had eight.
Hamilton could get another shot
Recent history is Hamilton's best friend in the aftermath of yet another close loss in what is becoming arguably the area's best rivalry.
Last year, the Chargers swept the regular-season series but lost with a trip to state on the line.
There's no guarantee these two teams will play again thanks in large part to a loaded sectional field, as Wandrey was quick to point out postgame, but the most likely outcome is a Central-Hamilton sectional final rematch.
Conference leaders fall
Brookfield Central all but officially clinched at least a share of the Greater Metro title with its win, but it wasn't alone in being a game whose outcome had conference race implications.
Greendale upset Woodland West leader Wisconsin Lutheran, 73-63, in what was the Vikings' final conference game. Lutheran would have guaranteed itself at least a share of the conference title with a victory over the Panthers, who entered at 4-6 in Woodland play.
The Vikings are in the clubhouse at 9-3. New Berlin Eisenhower, which lost to Lutheran last week, lost to Pewaukee, 71-66, on Saturday. Eisenhower, Pewaukee and West Allis Central are all 8-3.
What happened on Tuesday?
Whatever was in the water Tuesday night, it was strong. Take a look at these individual performances from that one night alone:
Jordan Johnson had 44 points for Elkhorn.
Grafton's Alex Huibregtse canned 8 triples and shot 15 for 21 from the field for 39 points.
Steven Clay scored 38 for Menomonee Falls.
Milwaukee Bay View's Shelton Williams-Dryden also had 38.
David Joplin had 36 points against Marquette.
Tyrese Hunter poured in a careerhigh 34 points for Racine St. Catherine's.
Alex Antetokounmpo went 13 for 15 from the field and scored 32 points.
Carter Gilmore had 30 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists as he became Arrowhead's all-time leading scorer.