Versatile 6-footer is school’s all-time leading scorer
By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
When the young daughters of Waterford High School girls basketball coach Dena Brechtl play with Barbies or their doll house they often name their playtime friends after members of their mother’s squad.
One of the young Brechtl’s playtime characters is always named Madison, for standout senior forward Madison Blair.
Brechtl and Blair watched the WIAA Division 2 title game together March 14 in Green Bay at the Resch Center. Milwaukee’s Pius XI defeated Cedarburg 54-36 and capped an undefeated season (28-0).
Both coach and player ruminated on what might have been, but it doesn’t sound as though such thoughts lingered for long. The past was too much fun, and the future is far too bright.
“It definitely should have been us, but it wasn’t,” Brechtl said. “When you look back, it’s really a small part of life. The memories that come with it mean so much more than that one win or loss.”
Waterford’s season ended a game short of the Resch Center when Waunakee defeated the Wolverines 40-36 March 7 in the sectional final at Janesville Craig High School.
Pius dismantled Waunakee 55-30 March 13 in the semifinals before beating Cedarburg (24-2). Cedarburg beat River Falls (14-11) 51-41 March 13 in the other semifinal.
Blair competed in the inaugural WIAA Girls 3-Point Challenge, part of the festivities this season at the state tournament. Ten participants were picked, representing the top two 3-point shooters in each of the WIAA’s five divisions. Blair did not advance out of the opening round.
“It was really cool,” Blair said. “I didn’t shoot the ball well, but it was a good experience.”
The fact that she played on the floor where she and the Wolverines previously hoped to compete for a state title did not escape Blair.
“We got to play and shoot on the floor at the Resch Center, which is where all the state games are played,” Blair said. “They announced our names and awarded medals. It was kind of like we were at state.”
It would be incorrect, both to Blair and her teammates, to label the senior a once-in-a-lifetime talent. The Wolverines this season were not reminiscent of “Michael and the Jordannaires,” the nickname given to Chicago Bulls’ squads of the 1980s which featured Michael Jordan and little else.
“I had seven seniors that all played big minutes, with my top four seniors being kids that have played a lot of basketball together in Tiffany Stiewe, Jenna Bouffiou, Shauna Malchine and Madison,” Brechtl said.
Such a strong supporting cast certainly made Waterford better, and likely also improved Blair’s game.
“She’s the first one to say ‘I don’t have the success if I don’t have them,’” Brechtl said. “Without them, does Madison have the success? I don’t know.”
What is known is that all involved with Waterford girls basketball knew Blair and her teammates could do something special this season, and they knew before most others.
Brechtl and Waterford Athletic/Activities Director Mike Blair – Madison’s father – put together a schedule that would challenge the Wolverines throughout the season.
“(We) worked really hard on the schedule, and making sure we had different teams to play, and teams that would challenge us in different ways,” Brechtl said.
The Wolverines did not schedule easy games. Waterford played Racine Case, Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Franklin, Oak Creek, Kettle Moraine and others as part of its non-conference schedule.
Brechtl said Waterford played traditional powers like Franklin and Oak Creek, which each play in the Southeast Conference, to deal with the “wow” factor that comes with playing an opponent with a pedigree and a reputation.
The Wolverines lost to Oak Creek 50-45 Dec. 29 in the Oak Creek Holiday Tournament, a game Brechtl said proved to be critical to Waterford’s fortunes this season.
“We turned a lot of people’s heads in that game,” Brechtl said. “That game, right there, was a huge turning point this season.”
Waterford went on a 16-game winning streak after losing to Oak Creek, one not snapped until the Wolverines faced Waunakee.
“Obviously, I wish the postseason would have turned out differently,” Blair said. “In terms of effort and playing, we were fully committed. I think we put our best out there.
“It just didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.”
Waunakee led 34-26 at halftime and 45-39 at the end of the third. Blair said the Warriors stalled on offense in the fourth quarter, which forced Waterford to foul earlier than usual. Waunakee did not attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter.
“Most of our games in the postseason, we ended up down, and we ended up coming back,” Blair said. “I was pretty confident it was going to happen, right up until the last minutes on the clock.”
Blair finished with nine points, four rebounds and two steals against Waunakee. She averaged 16.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a senior.
The loss to Waunakee was not without personal accomplishment for Blair. She overtook Beth (Greil) Letto as the Wolverines’ all-time leading scorer. Blair finished her time at Waterford with 1,262 points. Blair is also Waterford’s career leader in 3-point field goals (125).
Concerning her future, Blair has strong academic options for college, as well as options that involve playing basketball. Her prowess on the court is matched, potentially exceeded, by her ability as a student. Blair carries a 4.113 grade point average and is ranked third in a class of 270.
“I can honestly tell you I don’t know where I’m going to be next year,” Blair said. “I don’t know if I’m going to play or not. I’ve not yet decided.
“I’m hoping to make that decision sooner rather than later, but we’ll see.”
Blair started playing basketball as a toddler with her parents on a plastic Fisher Price adjustable hoop, and participated in organized basketball for the first time in second grade at the Eau Claire YMCA.
Brechtl is convinced Blair will excel, no matter what role basketball plays in her future.
“She’s one of the most well-rounded people I know, an awesome kid, and someone I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with closely,” Brechtl said. “Academically, she’s a high achiever. Athletically, she has gifts I only wish I had.
“Socially, she’s just a kind, happy young lady.”
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