Some people felt the Greater Metro Conference was down this season, but don't tell that to Wauwatosa East (23-1) and Brookfield Central (18-4). Both the Red Raiders and the Lancers will be playing at the Kohl Center starting on Thursday after winning their sectional championships.
Central had to get by top-seeded Racine Park (19-3) and one of the state's best players in Jamil Wilson in the title game. Cory Degner, the GMC Player of the Year, scored 23 points, but defensive stopper Donne Robbins had the game of his life with 25 points, including six of the team's 12 3-pointers. Wilson was amazing, as he had 37 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score, 72-68, closer than it was.
The Lancers, who have made seven trips to state in the last nine years, have been there six out of eight times under the guidance of coach Mark Adams and his staff. Central needs to win it's opener against Bay Port, because the Lancers are only 1-5 at state under Adams.
This team had to overcome some things to start the year.
Brad Nortman, their best big man, decided to punt all winter instead of play basketball (he's going to Wisconsin to kick for the Badgers and is considered one of the top punters in the country); Lee Severson hadn't recovered from ankle surgery; Adams had to find a point guard; and even the coach started the year with hip surgery.
It's a credit to Adams, his staff and his kids that they are in Madison this week.
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And speaking of credit, a tip of the hat to low-key, media-shy Tim Arndorfer, who took his Red Raiders to state in his first year as head coach and for the first time since 2002.
Tosa East senior starters Brice Powell, Jake Barnett, D.J. Cupertino and Tony Walls are playing like they are on a mission - win the state title for the first time since 1989. These four guys have carried this team down the stretch.
Barnett scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half and then Powell took over in the second half scoring 14 of his 18 points in the 62-60 win over Milwaukee Custer in the sectional semi-finals. Then when King held Barnett/Powell to six points in the first half of the title game, Walls (8) and Cupertino (7) kept the Red Raiders from getting blown out at half, trailing only 29-21.
Trailing, 38-34, going into the final period, Cupertino put on one of the best clutch performances I have seen, as he scored eight points down the stretch, including two huge 3-pointers.
Madison Memorial (21-2), Germantown (22-1) and the Red Raiders are the team to watch in Madison.
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Just a comment on the type of kid Jamil Wilson is. When Brookfield East's girls team clobbered Racine Horlick in a regional semi-final game, Wilson was in the stands, cheering on the Lady Rebels. At half-time when the Spartanettes dance team did a rap dance, Wilson was cheering them and dancing in the stands.
Three nights later at the Horlick Sectional, following his team's win over West Allis Hale, Wilson showed off his dancing skills again. At half-time of the Central-Racine Case game, the Lancer fans came out of the stands at half-time to dance to the electric slide in front of the bleachers. Wilson then jumped out of the Horlick stands and joined in and the Rebel fans followed. About 150 kids from two different schools were dancing together and having fun. Even the Horlick PA announcer acknowledged the impromptu dance and asked the audience to give them a round of applause.
That, my friends, is what high school athletics is all about.
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Agree or disagree, post your comments.
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Follow all the action on BrookfieldNOW.com and WauwatosaNOW.com as I'll be blogging right from courtside.
And remember to always be a hit and have a ball.
