Coast-to-coast layup attempt rims out as time expires
By Mike Ramczyk
MIDDLETON – With about 5 seconds remaining on the clock, Union Grove sophomore Brooklyn Bull had one mission – put the basketball in the hoop and send her team to its first state tournament.
Stoughton led, 35-34, in overtime in a WIAA Division 2 sectional final at Middleton High School, when a missed one-and-one offered Bull and the Broncos their chance at a dramatic, game-winning, history-changing moment.
Bull zipped nearly the length of the floor and swooped in for a hanging layup over two defenders.
The ball caromed off the backboard and front rim before falling to the ground.
Emotion paralyzed the Grove girls, as their underdog attempt as an unranked squad to knock off the state’s third-ranked team fell short by mere inches.
The 35-34 victory propelled Stoughton to next weekend’s state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay, while the Broncos’ historic season ended with a 21-5 record.
Union Grove’s second sectional final appearance in school history was tied at 20-20, and the lead changed sides several times before the final buzzer.
Senior Frankie Pettit, who scored nine points and carried the Broncos on her 5-foot-11 shoulders at times down the stretch fouled out with a minute left in overtime. A varsity player since her freshman year, Pettit was left wondering what went wrong 30 minutes after the game.
“I’m really proud of our team, but nothing is really going through my mind except that we were so close (to victory),” Pettit said.
Union Grove coach Rob Domagalski said his team had one timeout remaining in the final seconds of overtime, but he trusted Bull to dribble down and make the shot. He said Bull’s extensive AAU experience helped her in that situation, as fast-paced offense is stressed.
“I wanted Bull shooting that shot, there isn’t another girl on the floor (I’d want taking that),” Domagalski said. “That’s her AAU style. That was her. She knew.”
“With Alyssa Kus and Bull, we want as much chaos as possible. Any time we let them go, they’re all for it. Brooklyn used the glass, which I liked. She missed it, but I don’t want to put any blame on her. It’s a credit to Stoughton’s defense.”
Stomping with the big dogs
Union Grove held Stoughton, which improved to 24-2, to a season-low 35 points.
Rumblings from Milton parents Thursday night, even from a reporter who covers Stoughton, suggested the Grove didn’t have much of a chance against Stoughton, one of the best teams in the state in Division 2.
Regardless of the final score, there isn’t a doubt the Broncos proved they belonged in the conversation.
Domagalski said early jitters were quickly quelled by Pettit, who rallied her teammates throughout the game.
“They took a five-point lead in the second half, and our girls said they weren’t getting blown out,” he said. “Our girls are resilient, and it comes back to our senior leadership with Frankie. She keeps them calm. Even though she’s not a scorer, Frankie is one of the best players to come through Union Grove. She does everything. It goes unnoticed because people look at scoring. That’s from coaching from her dad her whole life. Her freshman and sophomore year, she had to play some point guard. She can play all the positions.”
Union Grove junior Jenna Rainey provided a spark in overtime.
Down by three with a few minutes left, Rainey drove hard to the hole and was fouled. She only made one of two free throws, but it ignited a fire and urgency in the Broncos.
Rainey provided a couple foul shots and a key layup in overtime. On another play, with around 30 seconds left in overtime, Rainey broke free toward the hoop, and Pettit nearly found her for a bucket that could’ve extended the Grove lead to three.
Instead, Stoughton’s length and athleticism were on display as the tipped pass turned into a steal.
“We needed to do a better job of cutting backdoor to the hoop,” Domagalski said. “Rainey was doing it, but on that play, the ball got tipped. Then we had to start fouling.”
“If we get that shot, we have the lead with 20 seconds. That’s the game.”
Bull missed a layup from the right side on the possession before the final play, and the ball also rimmed out.
Rainey led the way with 11 points, Pettit scored nine and Bull added five.
“We were one shot away,” Domagalski said. “It’s hard to get here. It takes the entire season to build chemistry. I don’t care if we have every one of these girls back next year, it’d still be different. We notice that every year. What hurts the most is you build that chemistry to get to this point, and it’s done.”
“Let’s start over again.”
Domagalski, who teaches AP statistics and geometry, said he desperately wanted his players to experience the next step of a state tournament.
“I wanted them not just to represent Union Grove but also Racine County,” he said. “I’m proud of them. It is what it is.”
-
-
-
-
-