By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Girls on this year’s Union Grove High School girls basketball team have some big shoes to fill.
After all, the Broncos lost their top four scorers on last year’s squad – a total of over 33 points per game – to graduation.
Last season, Union Grove finished 13-10 overall and 10-4 in the Southern Lakes Conference. The SLC record was good enough for second place. The Broncos lost to New Berlin West in the regional semifinals.
This year’s squad will be based on the four returning letterwinners. They are senior center Katie Wendorf, senior forward Sarah Petrovic, and sophomore guards Becca Maier and Jordan Weidner.
Of that group, Weidner led the team last year in scoring, averaging six ppg.
“We are athletic and each player has the ability to lead us in scoring on any given night,” head coach Rob Domagalski said. “The returning players must fill the graduating players void and develop strong leadership skills.”
Although he sees Wilmot and Waterford as the top two teams in the SLC, Domagalski does not believe his team should be counted out of contention.
“We believe we can be in contention for the SLC championship, given the fact that we are very confident and that we have finished first or second in the SLC for the past seven years in a row,” Domagalski said.
“We have speed, strength, and, most importantly, the swagger to continue to compete at a high level.”
Domagalski said his girls must push the ball up the court and make the game more up-tempo. Yet, he noted that the main focus will be to shut down teams with a smothering defense.
The players moving up to the varsity level have already experienced success, as last year’s junior varsity squad was 18-4 and the freshmen squad was 15-5.
Because the team is young and inexperienced, Domagalski said each game will be used as a learning experience. In addition, building chemistry among the players will be essential.
Behind 10 points by Weidner, the Union Grove High School girls basketball team began its season Saturday at home with a 42-37 win over Cudahy.
Weidner had three field goals and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line to lead the Broncos.
Union Grove took an 8-3 lead after one quarter and increased that to 19-12 at the half.
Cudahy would not go away, though, staying just seven points back – 25-18 – after three quarters and then outscoring the Bronco girls 19-17 in the final period to make it the five-point game.
The Broncos had just one three in this game, but did get to the free throw line 28 times, sinking 15. Cudahy was just 10 of 24 from the line.
Union Grove had nine girls score in this game, with Wendorf adding eight.
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