By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
The Broncos certainly knew how to stop Southern Lakes Conference opponent Wilmot during regular season play.
Union Grove, which defeated the Panthers in both games, continued its winning ways with a 54-37 route of Wilmot in a Feb. 28 WIAA Division 2 girls basketball regional semifinal.
While they had answers for Wilmot, the top-seeded Broncos couldn’t find any against No. Waukesha West the following night, dropping a 51-45 overtime heartbreaker in a regional final.
The heartbreaker comes after the Broncos rallied from a 24-19 halftime deficit to outscore Waukesha West 23-18 in the second half to force another frame.
Waukesha West, however, stopped the Broncos surge in overtime after producing a 9-3 advantage.
Broncos coach Rob Domagalski admits his team was a bit undersized compared to the taller Waukesha West, but had opportunities to come away with a win, notably missed 3-pointers.
Union Grove went 4-for-24 from the perimeter.
“We are a 3-point shooting team, our girls who actually make 3’s weren’t making them. We had some opportunities to break the game open,” he said.
However, Domagalski said his team held on defensively, holding a team consisting of four players taller than 5-foot-10 to merely 51 points.
“With the size disadvantage, I thought we played a good game defensively, giving up 51 points in an overtime loss.”
Barber steps up
Senior Megan Barber, coming off an 11-point performance against Wilmot, led the Broncos with 15 in the regional final.
Barber, who made critical 3-pointers, including a game tying triple in the final minutes, went 4-for-9 in field goals while snagging a team-leading five rebounds.
She also made all four of her free throws.
“Megan Barber, she played her heart out, she played a little undersized and busted her butt,” Domagalski said.
Barber, a 5-6 guard, felt motivated to do what was the best for the team after realizing her days as a basketball player were numbered.
Additionally, she wanted to make the most of her last games.
“It kind of sunk in over the last couple of games that I was never going to play basketball again,” said Barber, who will play soccer this spring. “So, I just thought I needed to go off.”
Barber, meanwhile, said playing against a bigger Waukesha West team presented a challenge for her Broncos squad.
Junior Angela Slattery and freshman Sophia Rampulla each stand 5-10 and did what they could in the paint for the Broncos, according to Barber.
“We tried our hardest and they were just bigger. Sophia did a good job along with Angela and I am proud of both of them,” she said.
Lilly Hanke tallied 18 points while Maddie Anderson added 12 for Waukesha West (12-12, 8-8 Classic Eight).
Senior salute
Barber, along with Peyton Killberg, marked the end of their basketball careers and were instrumental in the Broncos success the last four years, Domagalski said.
The success includes winning three conference titles, including one this year, as well as being great teammates on and off the court.
“I want to thank Megan Barber and Peyton Killberg for the four years, they have been a part of three conference championship teams,” he said. “They are really good kids, inside and outside of school, it is sad to see them go.”
For Barber, she will always cherish winning multiple conference titles with Killberg.
“We have been best friends for awhile. I think my favorite memory with her is when we won conference three out of the four years,” Barber said.
Looking ahead
Union Grove (19-5, 11-3 SLC), which received Associated Press recognition three times this season, produced win streaks of five, eight and seven games en route to a conference title.
“We had a great season, winning the conference championship, getting to the regional final,” said Domagalski.
The Broncos return nearly all of their players, with exception to Barber and Killberg, next year.
Barber believes the Broncos will continue to get better because seven players are either freshmen or sophomores.
“They are going to be really good next year,” she said.
Domagalski agreed, adding the squad will contend for a conference title.
“We will be keep working, but we should be very competitive in our conference for the next three years,” he said.
See the full story in the March 6 edition of the Westine Report
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