SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS ALL-AREA BOYS BASKETBALL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Senior forward averaged 30 & 10 in postseason, led team to state title game
By Chris Bennett
Today, a young student at St. Mary’s School in Burlington is going to see Ben Heiligenthal and think, ‘Someday.’
Maybe someday that second or third-grader will be the one who distinguishes himself for the Hilltoppers as a standout three-sport athlete. Maybe someday he’ll be the one who leads the Hilltoppers to a state title game.
Maybe someday he’ll be the one who wins the Southern Lakes Newspapers All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.
Heiligenthal is the 2016 recipient of the honor, which is being bestowed for the first time.
“Ben is the consummate team player,” Hilltoppers coach Kyle Scott said when he nominated Heiligenthal for SLN’s All-Area team. “He is very deserving of every honor he has received this season, as he carried us through portions of the schedule.”
Tradition is built on excellence passed from one group or team to the next, and therein is Heiligenthal’s greatest legacy at Catholic Central. It’s what drove the senior to do the best he could every time he donned the Hilltoppers’ iconic blue and white jersey.
“Those guys were my idols,” Heiligenthal said of players from years’ past. “Those guys were super. When I was playing I wanted to be a good example.”
Elementary students and high school students mingle in common areas like the lunchroom and playground at Catholic Central – there’s only so much room on the school’s cozy campus – and Heiligenthal said he routinely high-fives young admirers.
He grew up watching those Hilltoppers who came before him, and he gave those who will come after him plenty to admire this past season. Heiligenthal and the Hilltoppers advanced to the WIAA Division 5 state title game March 19 at the Kohl Center in Madison. Catholic Central lost 63-41 to McDonell Central from Chippewa Falls.
“Ben was probably the biggest key to our success,” teammate Brandon Vandehei said. “He was a team leader. Any time we needed a bucket on offense, we could run the play through Ben.”
Heiligenthal averaged 22 points and nine rebounds per game for the Hilltoppers.
Catholic Central finished 19-10 overall and 10-6 and in third place in the Metro Classic Conference. The preseason conference poll predicted the Hilltoppers would finish eighth in the nine-team conference.
“This young man is the epitome of a student-athlete,” Catholic Central assistant Steve Smith said. “Ben’s a 4.0 student and a true three-sport athlete. It goes without saying that the Catholic Central boys would not have realized the success they’ve had this year without Ben’s performance.”
Heiligenthal earned numerous accolades for his play this past season. He earned unanimous selection to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 5 All-State team and won Metro Classic Conference Player of the year honors.
Heiligenthal also earned the All-Racine County Player of the year honor from The Journal Times in Racine.
He also became the leading scorer in Catholic Central boys basketball history this past season with a total of 1,445 points. He will attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall and study computer science.
State a goal from day one
There is a perception that Heiligenthal and the Hilltoppers advanced to the state title game as a plucky underdog from a small school. It might make for a good story, but it isn’t necessarily the truth.
“That was our goal from day one,” Heiligenthal said of advancing to state. “As a team, everyone in our locker room thought it was possible. I don’t think anyone outside of our locker room thought it was possible.”
The Hilltoppers’ season did not look so bright at mid-season. The Hilltoppers lost their fourth straight game and dropped to 6-7 overall after a 53-52 Metro Classic loss to Saint Thomas More Jan. 23 in Milwaukee.
Catholic Central responded with a seven-game winning streak and won 13 of their next 15 and advanced to face McDonnell.
“It felt great, being a part of that team,” Heiligenthal said. “Our confidence was building and building. By the time we got to the playoffs we knew who we were and we knew our game.”
The confidence powered Heiligenthal and the Hilltoppers all the way to Madison, which led to one of the senior’s fondest memories.
“The first time we got to the Kohl Center, it was before the game,” Heiligenthal said. “We just got to walk around the court and look around at the arena – it was empty.”
Heiligenthal said he thought of all the great players to grace the Badgers’ home hardwood, and how huge the venue looked absent of fans. A short time later the stands filled for the first of five state title games.
“I just couldn’t believe how many people were there,” Heiligenthal said. “I didn’t think that many people were into little schools like us. There were people from all over. I didn’t expect that.”
McDonell led Catholic Central 28-18 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.
“The whole time I’m battling and trying to do my thing, and I looked up at the scoreboard and we were down by 20 or something,” Heiligenthal said. “I don’t remember the exact score, but I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to make it.’
The deficit didn’t deter Heiligenthal or his teammates from playing as if the score stood at 0-0. It wasn’t until the final minutes, when coaches subbed liberally, that Catholic Central begrudgingly acknowledged the outcome and Heiligenthal ended a brilliant career on the court.
“There’s no other place you want to play your last high school game, other than at the Kohl Center in the state championship,” Heiligenthal said.
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This is so great to hear. You go!!! Keep up the great job and I hope someone will see you for who you are. A great player. We will see you in the pro’s playing. Can’t wait to hear your name soon.