By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
The hype is on overload for the Union Grove boys basketball team right now.
Picked as the Southern Lakes Conference favorites by the Wisconsin Sports Network’s annual yearbook, the Broncos, equipped with five returning starters, aren’t letting the experts down.
With another victory Tuesday night, Union Grove is now 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SLC one year after finishing with a 10-14 overall record.
Head coach Dave Pettit, now in his 19th season, has the luxury of nine returning players and some momentum.
“It’s just on paper, but we have to go out and play the games,” he said Tuesday. “There’s some expectation. I really like this team. They pick things up quickly, and we improved on some weaknesses from last year.”
One of the team’s biggest strengths this year will be balance. In a 70-69 victory over Delavan-Darien Tuesday night, three players tallied 17 points each.
Senior Andrew Kazikowski, the Broncos’ only returning all-conference player, made the game-winning bucket with six seconds remaining to edge the Comets.
Kazikowski, Cody Walters and Grant Beck each tallied 17 points. Kazikowski hit three triples and lethal from beyond the arc.
Pettit attributed the early-season success to offseason dedication. Six Broncos played AAU ball this summer in preparation for the season.
“There’s an expectation that they go do that,” he said. “But as long as they’re competing in some sport, they’re doing well.”
Ben Miller, Jake Fink and Alex Hale join Kazikowski and Beck in the starting lineup.
Walters is the sixth man, and Connor LaPointe, Kyle Pohjola and Alex VanDyke are key contributors off the bench.
Hale added 10 points Tuesday, and the Broncos have benefitted from four double-digit scorers in every game so far.
“Our strength offensively is patience,” Pettit said. “We’re better when we play slow. Quickness is a bit of an issue. We work hard, but an athletic point guard could give us trouble.”
Union Grove’s defense is strong, and it should battle for the conference championship. Burlington is the three-time defending champ, but the Demons lost at home Tuesday and only have four seniors.
“The SLC is wide open,” Pettit said. “Wilmot, Badger and Westosha Central should be good. There will be a lot of beating each other up. The last man standing wins.”
The Broncos will have a chance to see what they’re made of Tuesday when they take on Mukwonago, the defending Division 1 state runner-up.
“It will be tough, but it’s a real test of where we’re at,” Pettit said.
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