By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
For some teams, losing six seniors and four starters, off a conference championship team would mean a rebuilding year. Not so for the Union Grove High School girls’ basketball team.
“I believe we are still the team to beat in our conference,” noted head coach Rob Domagalski. “We have speed, strength, and most importantly, the swagger to continue to compete at a high level. We have high expectatations of repeating as the three-time Southern Lakes Conference champions and making another deep run in the playoffs.”
Last year, the Bronco girls went 14-0 in the SLC, 22-2 overall, but were upset by Delavan-Darien in the regional final. At the time, the team was ranked No. 2 in the state.
Senior 5-foot-7 guard Megan Lee is the only returning starter from last year’s squad. Lee averaged 6.9 points per game and three steals per game.
Other returning varsity players are 5-6 senior guard Alyssa Acker, 5-6 senior guard Ashley Miller, 5-7 senior guard Alicia Faber and 5-6 senior guard Lindsay Johnson.
New varsity players on this year’s team include 5-9 senior guard Jo Wilks, 5-11 junior center Katie Wendorf, 5-5 junior guard Miranda DeMark, 5-9 junior forward Brook Repta, 5-5 junior guard Kylee Kujellis, 5-10 junior forward Sarah Petrovic, 5-6 junior guard Annie McClelland and 5-10 senior forward Helen Melonas.
“Our team does not have one main scorer, which will make it more difficult for other teams to match up against us,” Domagalski said. “We will push the ball up the court for an up-tempo game, but our main focus will be shutting teams down with smothering defense.”
With six players gone from last year’s team, Domagalski noted that the returning players will need to build a new chemistry amongst each other and will need to fill the voids left by the graduating players.
“Our team may not have the same make-up as last year, but the goal is still the same – dominate every team we play,” Domagalski said.
Facing the No. 5-ranked team in the state in Division 2 Tuesday, the Union Grove High School girls’ basketball team had a disastrous third quarter that led to a 54-38 defeat in season-opening action.
“We had a great start,” head coach Rob Domagalski said, referring to the 11-0 lead the Broncos had in the first quarter. “We just couldn’t sustain it.”
Union Grove still led 17-13 after one quarter, and had a 26-25 lead in the second period, before falling behind 30-26 at the half.
In the third quarter, though, Cudahy pulled away, with the Broncos scoring just one free throw the entire eight minutes. The result was a 43-27 deficit going into the final quarter.
Senior guard Alyssa Acker led the Broncos with 16 points, with senior guard Ashley Miller adding 12. No other Bronco player had more than four points.
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