Waterford wins regional title

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

Fueled by a 14-1 fourth-quarter run that turned a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead, the Waterford Union High School girls basketball team won a WIAA Division 2 regional title at home 40-31 over Union Grove Saturday night.

The Wolverines advance to play New Berlin West – upset winners over New Berlin Eisenhower – Thursday at 7 p.m. in a sectional semifinal.

The Wolverines struggled to get good shots for most of the contest, including in the second quarter where the team had just two free throws – on two separate possessions.

But with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Madison Blair and Jenna Bouffiou hit back-to-back 3-pointers to first tie the game, and then put Waterford ahead for the first time since early in the second quarter.

Union Grove tried to rallied, but scored just three more points in the game – all on free throws.

“There was no way we were going to go 32 minutes without getting some good looks. There was no way,” said Waterford coach Dena Brechtl. “We have to be more patient, because we know we’re good enough to be.”

Union Grove coach Rob Domagalski said his goal for the Broncos was to limit Waterford to just 40 points.

“Defensively, I thought we did a good job of them,” he said. “We did our job. We just did not do a good enough job on the offensive end.”

Waterford’s Tiffany Stiewe and Blair clinched the game by each hitting a pair of free throws in the final minute.

“It was so nerve-wracking,” said Stiewe. “But I knew I had to get it done for the team, for the community and for everyone.”