There is a good possibility that Wauwatosa East (17-4) might be playing its final basketball games this weekend with Marquette (18-2) and probably Milwaukee Washington (20-1) standing in the way of a second-straight state trip.
The Red Raiders have seven seniors on this year's team - Eric Williams, Keondre Gholston, Fraizier Reiland, Michael Cupertino, Eric Neal, Vinnie Ingrilli and Isaiah Ward. This could be their final time wearing the Red Raiders' garb.
I just want to take a few minutes to share my memories of them.
Williams is one of the most talented players in the Greater Metro Conference. Coming off the bench last year, he made big baskets down the stretch in both sectional wins. In the title game in Madison, he had the biggest shot of the tournament when he hit a HUGE 3-pointer in the final seconds to eventually led to the win. When I asked him afterwards if he was nervous, he smiled and said "Heck, I like to shoot."
Gholston beat Menomonee Falls last season went he went to the free throw line with the score tied - missed the first shot - and made the second - with no time on the clock. I asked him afterwards what he was thinking going to the line. He said "Game over!" Then I asked him what he was thinking about after he missed the first one. He smiled and said 'Game over!' After winning the title I walked up to him and said 'Game over!' and got a big smile out of him.
Fraizier Reiland is a unique player. Not too many teams have a weapon like him. At 6-foot-7-inches he is one of the taller players around, but he is a good 3-point shooter. Cupertino was a good point guard, who came up with the big 3 now and then and Ingrilli gave the team a 3-point threat that wasn't always available when he wasn't in the line-up.
Neal was one of my favorite players. He is one of the quickest players on the team, so watching him steal the ball and take it down the court for an easy basket or pass to a teammate for one was always fun to watch. He started at the beginning of the year, but when the coaches decided to bring him off the bench, he kept his mouth shut and added a spark the Red Raiders needed.
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Congratulations to Zach Sines of Brookfield East and Glen Kendl from Tosa East for being named the Greater Metro Conference and Woodland Conference Wrestlers of the year.
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Kudos to Brookfield Central's Katelyn Malcore for finishing third in the floor and vault at the state gymnastics meet. Freshman Taylor Bucholtz finished 16th in vault, which is not too shabby for a first trip to state.
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Until next time, remember to be a hit and have a ball.
