While everyone gets excited about 'March Madness' - I include myself in that group - there is a sadness I also go through at this time.

Why March Sadness? The high school basketball season is over.

I openly admit basketball is my favorite high school sport - boys and girls - just two different games. Besides never getting a chance to watch some of the seniors play again, it will be seven months until I get a chance to work with the coaches again.

My season lasted a little longer since the Brookfield Central girls qualified for state after a terrific sectional championship victory over Muskego won by a last second shot by senior Joana Bielefeld. Central has everyone returning but Bielefeld, but Jo will leave a huge hole in that line-up, especially when it comes to closing out a game.

Erin Lueder gave an gutsy performance in the sectional final, playing with a hairline fracture in her left foot, she shut out Kate Ellerson, first-time all state performer for three periods, and then was one of the few Lady Lancers to show up for the only state tournament game and scored a team-high 10 points.

Tosa East had a fun sectional, playing well in getting some fraction of revenge by beating an excellent Marquette team, which took the Red Raiders' GMC title away from them, and then taking Milwaukee Washington into overtime before falling short when a 3-point shot by Eric Neal bounced off the rim.

I will miss working with this group of Raiders, as coach Tim Arndorfer turns out good kids as well as good basketball players.

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Question! MUHS won the Greater Metro and beat the Red Raider twice but then lost in the sectional. I would still sooner be the Hilltoppers because they won a title. If the Red Raiders would have gone on to the state tournament, then I might have reversed by pick.

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As I look outside right now the weather is beautiful, but one of the reasons I like the spring season the least is the weather. So many cancellations because of the inconsistent elements we have to deal with in Wisconsin.

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But the good thing about spring is, of course, March Madness, brackets, and baseball is right around the corner. It doesn't get better than that.

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Until next time, be a hit and have a ball.

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.

The fun begins this week as the girls playoffs start. The Wauwatosa East girls travel to Tosa West tonight for a WIAA Regional first-round game. Both teams have struggled offensively, so I figure the first team to 30 wins.

It could be the last time to see Hannah Weinberg-Kinsey and Margaret Panter of the Red Raiders team, two of my favorite players. While West has six seniors, led by Jesse Zeisse and Andrea Kwak. And I always enjoy watching little point guard Jackie Glaser play.

Brookfield East hosts Racine Park in the other girls game in my region. East has six seniors, led by Kennedy Curtis, Vanessa Brown and Kristina Dolney.

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The biggest game of the week on the boys side has Tosa East traveling to crosstown rival Marquette with the winner walking off with the Greater Metro Conference Championship. The Hilltoppers' win in the first meeting has pushed them ahead of the Red Raiders in the rankings and the sectional seeding.

Garrett Maloney destroyed the Red Raiders in the first game and the MUHS zone limited Eric Williams to two points. If the results are going to be different, those numbers have to change.

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The Red Raiders received a third-seed in the WIAA Sectional #8 rankings. The Red Raiders have a bye and then host Bay View or Pius XI at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. Tosa West received a Seven seed and hosts Oak Creek on Tuesday, March 3. The winner of that game plays MUHS on March 7.

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Brookfield Central - a seventh seed - hosts No. 10 Franklin on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. and Brookfield East, which has been playing outstanding defense the past two weeks - takes its No. 11 seed to No. 6 Waterford that first night.

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Zack Sines and Joey Woppert of Brook East, Dryden Holmes of Brookfield Central and big Glen Kendl of Wauwatosa head off to state Thursday to Saturday for the WIAA State Wrestling Championships at the Kohl Center.

Brookfield Central will take on some red-clad followers this week.  The Lancers travel to Marquette to meet the Hilltoppers Tuesday night and then return home to face them on Friday.  The unusual scheduling was because of the Jan. 16 postponed game because of cold weather closing schools was rescheduled to be played Feb. 17.  Thus Central and Marquette play twice within four days.

So why is this important to Tosa East fans? Pretty simple. The Red Raiders, whose only GMC loss came to Marquette, and the Hilltoppers are technically tied for first - Tosa East (11-1) and Marquette (10-1). The Red Raiders are 15-3 overall and MUHS is 14-2-1. The seeding meetings for the boys sectional are set for the weekend. If Marquette wins both games, they will probably have a higher seed than Tosa East because of the Hilltoppers win in their only meeting.  Milwaukee Washington will get the top seed, MUHS the second and the Red Raiders the third in the experts' opinions.

"I guess we will be Brookfield Central fans this week," TE coach Tim Arndorfer said. "We will have to see what coach (Mark) Adams (of BCHS) can come up with."

If Adams helps the Red Raiders by beating Marquette that will only be a by-product for the veteran coach, who is trying to get his team back in the winning column down the stretch - that's what's first on his mind going into these two games.

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Brookfield Central (13-0, 18-1) travels to DSHA (12-1, 17-2) Thursday night for the season finale for both teams. The defending champion Lady Lancers won at the tiny DSHA gym last year, snapping a four-game losing streak there. The Dashers will be fired up to get a share of the title. Central, of course, has no interest in sharing it.  Central won the first game, 36-33, a rugged defensive game, which combined with some nervousness, made both offenses a little shakey.

First team to 40 (if the score goes that high) should win this game. It's always fun to watch Central's Dan Wandrey and DSHA's Scott Witt work the sidelines, their teams and the officials in this game.

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Congrats to all the swimmers from the co-op teams from Brookfield and Tosa for qualifying for state. The news in Tosa was particularly big, because the boys have not been there since 2005.

Special shoutout to the Tosa co-op wrestlers and the Brookfield East and Central wrestlers who advanced to sectionals on Saturday.

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The girls basketball seedings came out last weekend and Tosa fans should be happy, because they are guaranteed to have a team in the second round. Tosa East will travel to Tosa West on Feb. 24 for a 7 p.m. game to open postseason action. The Trojans nipped the Red Raiders, 33-31, in their non-conference meeting back on Dec. 2.

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The most surprising box score from Friday night came from Brookfield East, where the Spartans crushed Hamilton, 55-34. Way to go Andy Farley and the gang. The most impressive stat was the Spartans' defense, led by Demetri Tongas, held Kameron Cerroni and Brett Meinecke to six points each. They normally average 38 points between them.

The Spartans have lost several close games this year and deserve a win like this.

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Be a hit and have a ball until next time.

It is hard to believe that for some of the local swimmers and wrestlers, their season will come to an end on Saturday at the sectionals and regionals, respectively. Where did the season go to?

The Brookfield schools and the Wauwatosa co-op wrestling teams are taking part in the Waukesha North Regional on Saturday, while the Brookfield Barracudas and Tosa Hurricanes co-op swim teams take part in the Waukesha South Sectional, with diving on Friday and swimming on Saturday.

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On the basketball front, the Brookfield Central girls (12-0, 17-1) travel to Tosa East (2-10, 4-12) this Friday and then travel to the band box at Divine Savior Holy Angels (11-1, 15-2) to determine who will win or share the GMC championship. Tosa West (7-4, 9-6) is battling Ike (8-2) and Pewaukee (8-4) for the Woodland title.

On the boys side, Tosa East (10-1, 14-3) has three tough matches at Brookfield Central (6-4, 9-6), Hamilton (7-4, 9-7) and at Marquette (9-1, 13-2) with the GMC title on the line. You can bet after this Friday, Tosa East fans will be cheering for the Lancers, who play the Hilltoppers on Feb. 17 and Feb. 20. Coach David Cooks has done a great job with his Marquette squad this season.

Tosa West coach Mike Landisch has his team playing exciting (7-4, 7-8) basketball, but the Trojans are going to have to close out more games if they want to catch Ike (9-1), Pewaukee (9-2) and Brown Deer (8-4). Without a doubt, watching Ray Sterling, Bendell Lee, Sam Krenzien, Andy Minkley and Barry Ballinger has given me plenty of thrills this season - more wins would be nice also.

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SPECIAL HEADSUP --- Andy Minkley has come up big for the Trojans the past couple of weeks. The veteran senior guard is not afraid to take the big shot and his defense has been outstanding the last couple of games I have covered. Brookfield Central sophomore Valerie Rose Agnello, a 5-10 sophomore forward, has now started putting the ball in the hoop for the Lady Lancers. Agnello, an excellent defender and rebounder, gives Central another threat - which is like giving an octopus another tentacle. Watch out for seniors Zach Sines of Brookfield East and Glen Kendl as they set their sights on the state wrestling meet.

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Be a hit and have a ball

Both the Brookfield Central girls and the Wauwatosa East boys sit on top of the Greater Metro Conference with unbeaten records in conference. Both teams have talent, plenty of talent and that is why they are the favorites to win their conferences if they play up to their abilities.

Last Saturday in one of the best defensive games I have seen, Central beat an outstanding Divine Savior Holy Angels team, 36-33. If fact, Central had the Dashers down by seven, only to see them rally to within one in the final seconds.

If you would have told me Central's Joana Bielefeld would have one basket in the game, I would never have believed that the Lady Lancers would have won. But with both Bielefeld, the GMC's top player as a junior, and Erin Lueder, both in early foul trouble, Central coach Dan Wandrey had other people step up.

Maggie Mattiacci and Kate Sandstrom, two of the other starters, played well defensively and grabbed some big rebounds, while the third starter, 6-foot-1 inch Jesse Thomas, has continued to improve her play with every game.

The key to the Lady Lancers' season in my opinion is the play of Thomas. She is an athletic player, who is ripped and when she reacts and doesn't think about what she has to do she will swish 15-foot jumpers or drive to the basket for easy layups.

Wandrey also got excellent bench play against the Dashers from guards Lindsay Wille and Brooke Duckett, the former a solid ballhandler and the latter an excellent shooter.

But if Wandrey has a secret weapon, it is 5-10 forward Valerie Rose Agnello, who is a thorn in the side of any team she comes up against. She is athletic, lanky and those long arms and quick feet make her a top rebounder and defensive threat and she could start on most teams in the GMC. When she comes in the game, the lineup gets stronger.

Across town at Tosa East, the Red Raiders continue to roll in conference play. Eric Williams, who is averaging over 17 points a game recently, and Keondre Gholston are the team's two most consistent players. but coach Tim Arndorfer easily can play 10-12 players without missing a beat.

Two key players for the Red Raiders are Barret Powell and Larry Bradley, two players who rather rebound, play defense and pass the ball, skills that are appreciated on a team with so much offensive talent.

Just to name a few players, Arndorfer can call on shooters (Fraizier Reiland, Vinnie Ingrilli, Eric Neal, Dan Sayles) or defenders (Mike Cupertino, Jake Larson) and I'm up to 10 players with more talent to call on.

If these two teams play up to their potential and don't read their press clippings, they should wear the crowns at the end of the season. They both are fun to watch.

The Trojans host unbeaten New Berlin Eisenhower Friday night in a battle for first place in the Woodland Conference. It will be interesting to see how big a crowd shows up to support the Trojans and make the West gym a place to remember.

Until next time, be a hit and have a ball.

There will be two big Greater Metro Conference games coming up this Friday - one on the boys side and one on the girls.

5th-ranked Divine Savior Holy Angels (6-0, 9-1) and 7th-rated Brookfield Central (6-0, 11-1) meet in Brookfield at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Last year Central won the title, beating the Dashers on the road (45-38) and then DSHA beat Central at home in the season finale after the Lady Lancers won the title (42-29).

These two games will probably decide the title, barring injury, illness or something unforeseen. Check out my matchup story in this Thursday's BrookfieldNOW paper and web site.

On the boys end, Wauwatosa East (5-0, 9-2) travels to Sussex Hamilton (5-0, 7-2) to face the Chargers in the battle for first. The Red Raiders won twice last year at Sussex (84-67) and at home (91-59), so I'm curious to see how far the Chargers have come this season. It will be fun to see what the Tosa East defense can do against Kameron Cerroni (22.2) and Brett Meinecke (17.8) the top scoring duo in the GMC.

Brookfield Central (3-2, 6-4), which lacks the super athlete like Cory Degner this year, takes on Marquette (4-1, 8-2-1) and Garrett Maloney (13.0). The game is huge for the Lancers, who have lost four of five games.

Wauwatosa West (5-0) has to beat Brown Deer (2-3) on the road Friday and not make it a 'trap game' before the game with New Berlin Eisenhower (5-0) on Jan. 23.

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Congratulations to Tosa East senior Glen Kendl, who needs one win to become Tosa's all-time victory leader. Going into Wednesday's match with Greendale, the 285-pound Kendl shares the lead with Nick Morin, who set the mark last year, with 115 wins. Kendl is 23-0. Two weeks ago, Zach Sines became Brookfield East's all-time win leader.

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The Brookfield East/Central co-op gymnastics team keeps getting outstanding performances out of junior Katelyn Malcore, one of the area's top performers.

Here's a get well wish for Central sophomore Elizabeth Tzortzos, who did a release move off the bars and peeled off and hurt her back in a recent meet against Menomonee Falls/Germantown. She will be out about a week. Liz is Central's No. 2 performer.

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Be a hit and have a ball until next time!

The Wauwatosa East boys went 1-1 in the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Tournament and it is easier to figure out a Rubik's Cube than the Red Raiders rotation.

"Yeah, it a perfect world that would be great," he said after the win over Pius XI on Saturday. "But we are still trying to find out who to start, who to play together. We have a lot of talent but no one is really stepping up."

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Most of the Brookfield and Wauwatosa High School basketball teams will be playing their final conference games of the year this week before taking some time off for Christmas and then returning for some holiday tournaments or some individual non-conference games.

Here's some early thoughts on the teams I cover.

WAUWATOSA

Boys

Wauwatosa East has been writing a similiar script like last season, but when a team goes 26-1, it's the bottom line that counts. Larry Bradley, Jr. may be in uniform by next Friday's game against Pius XI once the legal guardian paperwork is done and with that addition, I really don't see anyone in the Greater Metro Conference giving the Red Raiders a run for their money. They were possibly more talented than last year's team without the 6-3 Bradley.

Wauwatosa West should be fun to watch this year this season with coach Mike Landisch's penetrate and kickback offense. This suits Ray Sterling, Jr. Bendell Lee and Sam Krenzien well, while Andy Minkley, more of a setup shooter, will get the hang of it. Barry Ballinger's play underneath will also be a key to the Trojans' success. It will also be interesting to see how the four suspended players fit in when they return soon.

Girls

Someone keep Tosa East coach Rob Hamill away from high places and sharp knifes. His girls have lost three games by a total of five points and have played better than their record indicates. Hannah Weinberg-Kinsey has recently been lighting up the net and that is something the Red Raiders need, a second scorer to go along with Margaret Panter.

The surprise team of the city might be Tosa West. Coach Mike Pietrowiak recently got scrappy Molly Boyle back and Jesse Zeisse will be back soon. The inside play of Ashley Ballinger will also be a key for the Trojans this season. Jackie Glaser, who was under the weather in a recent game, and Andrea Kwak have played well in the early going, among others.

BROOKFIELD

Boys

Mike Gosz, Hamilton Athletic Director, won't be getting a Christmas card from Brookfield East coach Andy Farley this year. The Spartans have opened up with Brookfield Central, Wauwatosa East and Marquette, all on the road. Daniel Patton is leading the way for the Spartans, is one of the top outside shooters I have seen this season. C.J. Gregg is a talented big man and Devonte Harper has done a good job of running the offense.

It's early yet, but coach Mark Adams has to be pleased with the Lancers quick start. Seven players are scoring between 5.0 and 7.0 points per game as Central has shown early season balance. Kevin Hynes, filling big shoes at point guard, and John Winius has hit some huge shots so far this season. Adams not only has a freshman on his team for the first time, but 6-4 Seth Mortag is STARTING on top of it.

Girls

My story in this week's paper goes into more detail on the defending champion Lady Lancers talented team this year. Joana Bielefeld and Erin Lueder do a great job of leading this team, but their suporting cast has improved. 6-1 Jesse Thomas, 5-10 sophomore Valarie Agnello, 5-9 Maggie Mattiacci and 5-8 Kate Sandstrom have all had key roles in Central's fast start. And coach Dan Wandrey has put in a devasting 1-3-1 zone defense this season.

If coach Tara Schmitt can get all her best players healthy or eligible, the Lady Spartans could be a force again. Marley Blood has been out with a high angle sprain and a few other players have had some athletic code and grade problems, but others have stepped up. One of the most aggressive players I have seen so far is Kennedy Curtis, who has helped East's inside game in Blood's absence.

Hope to see some of you at the Holiday Tournaments the next two weeks.

Be a Hit and Have a Ball.

The WIAA heard Wauwatosa East's appeal on sophomore transfer student Larry Bradley today and will make the announcement of their decision sometime next week.

To quickly summarize, Bradley, whose parents still live in Milwaukee, moved in with his uncle Marshall Williams, who lives in Wauwatosa. Bradley, a 6-3 guard, started for Milwaukee Vincent last season and averaged 7.3 points per game. He is considered one of the top sophomores in Wisconsin.

The WIAA denied a transferred waiver application in November. Tosa East appealed and pincipal Nick Hughes and athletic director Linda Vitrano traveled to Stevens Point for the hearing Friday. 

I was told the decision has been made, but the announcement is not until next week. Hello?  Takes that long to write a press release?

I have no inside information, of course, but I don't have a good feeling on this one.

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Seth Mortag, a 6-4 freshman forward, is not only the first freshman to make the varsity for veteran coach Mark Adams, but he is also starting for the Lancers. Mortag played on a summer AAU team coach by former Milwaukee Bucks guard Mo Williams. He scored 10 points in his first varsity game, a double OT win over South Milwaukee.

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Daniel Patton has stepped up for the Spartans, as the Brookfield East guard scored 25 points in the first two games, including 16 in the opener. He is a good outside shooter for coach Andy Farley's gang.

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Brookfield East and West Allis Central, usually the teams to beat in the Greater Metro Conference wrestling race, hooked up in the first dual of the conference season. The Spartans won 36-27 behind pins by Andy Wanta, Zach Sines and Joe Wahhab. East coach Bud Sines must be smiling.

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The school rivalries busted out early this season. Tosa West girls slipped by Tosa East, 33-31, in a thriller Tuesday night at West. The Tosa East boys travel to Tosa West Saturday night and then the Brookfield East boys and girls travel to Central for a twinbill on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. (girls) and 7:30 p.m. (guys).

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That's it for now. Look for more blogs coming at you more often now that the winter season is underway.

Be a Hit and Have a Ball!

The CNI All-Suburban Boys Basketball Team will be featured in this week's BrookfieldNOW and WauwatosaNOW papers and web sites on Thursday and both Brookfield Central Wauwatosa East are well represented.

First of all, Tim Arndorfer was named CNI's Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, beating out some excellent candidates from the area Community Newspapers, Inc. covers.

It was the fourth time a coach from Tosa East was honored, as Arndorfer joins the man he replaced - George Haas - who earned the honors in 2004-05, 1996-97 and 1993-94.

Joining their coach on the team were the one-two combination of Brice Powell and Jake Barnett, who keyed the Red Raiders run to the state championship.

From Brookfield, Central's Cory Degner also earned All-Suburban honors. Degner, who switched from small forward to point guard, averaged over 17 points a game for the Lancers, who also made it to the state tournament, losing to Tosa East in the semifinals.

Detailed features on Arndorfer, Powell/Barnett and Degner highlights this week's sports coverage.

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As usual spring sports in Wisconsin gets to deal with Mother Nature. Some soccer matches have been played, but mainly indoor track is underway.

The spring schedules are light and won't really pick up for another week or so.

Let's hope they won't have to dig themselves out from the snow and ice when it happens.

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Always remember to be a hit and have a ball.

Following Wauwatosa East's semi-final victory over Brookfield Central at the state tournament in Madison Friday night, one of the Madison area writers asked coach Tim Arndorfer in a polite way if the Red Raiders were saving their best for last.

Afterall, East beat a tall Eau Claire North team, 50-38, pulling away in the final minutes and then had a grind-it-out 52-48 victory over Central, which played most of the first half without the Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year Cory Degner, who left the game with two fouls with about three minutes left in the first quarter.

"You must have played better in the sectional to beat Custer and King," the reporter asked Arndorfer. Basically, most media felt the only thing delaying giving Madison Memorial the gold ball Saturday night was the game which had to be played beforehand.

The fact was, this Raider team was losing to a Madison Memorial team in a summer league game and then rallied to win. When this was brought up at Friday's press conference, East junior Mike Cupertino answered the question like a pro. "What happened in the summer, has nothing to do with tomorrow night's game."

The Spartans' Jeronne Maymon put on perhaps the best single game performance I have ever seen from a high school basketball player. Like the cliche goes, he did everything but sell popcorn. The 6-foot-5 inch junior scored 33 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked three shots, but by the time the game was over he was exhausted since his teammates sat around and watched his performance.

The Tosa East players knew what they were capable of as the "Team Together" slogan on the back of their T-shirts pretty much summed up the title game. The Red Raiders were a team when it came to breaking the normal devastating Memorial press and playing a rare 2-3 zone which stopped everyone except the manchild Maymon. When coach Steve Collins was asked why Memorial called off the press, his response was simple - "Because they were getting too many lay-ups off it."

The stats showed they were a team also - Jake Barnett scored 15 points and added 7 rebounds; Eric Williams scored 14 points and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range, including perhaps the biggest 3-pointer in Tosa East history that sent the game into overtime; Brice Powell scored 12 points, had 6 assists and grabbed 6 rebounds, including the biggest one of the game which set up Williams shot; D.J. Cupertino came off the bench and played with a bad ankle, scoring 10 points and getting a key steal at the end of the game and Tony Walls, who had 5 points, 6 assists and 3 steals, played the floor game of his life, helping destroy the Spartans trap and press.

But even this impressive performance didn't change some media member's mind when after the game he said, "If these team's played 10 games, Tosa East would only win four of them."

No one will ever know, but Saturday night the Red Raiders won the only one that counted.

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Agree or disagree, feel free to comment.

And remember, always be a hit and have a ball.

Some people felt the Greater Metro Conference was down this season, but don't tell that to Wauwatosa East (23-1) and Brookfield Central (18-4). Both the Red Raiders and the Lancers will be playing at the Kohl Center starting on Thursday after winning their sectional championships.

Central had to get by top-seeded Racine Park (19-3) and one of the state's best players in Jamil Wilson in the title game. Cory Degner, the GMC Player of the Year, scored 23 points, but defensive stopper Donne Robbins had the game of his life with 25 points, including six of the team's 12 3-pointers. Wilson was amazing, as he had 37 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the score, 72-68, closer than it was.

The Lancers, who have made seven trips to state in the last nine years, have been there six out of eight times under the guidance of coach Mark Adams and his staff. Central needs to win it's opener against Bay Port, because the Lancers are only 1-5 at state under Adams.

This team had to overcome some things to start the year.

 Brad Nortman, their best big man, decided to punt all winter instead of play basketball (he's going to Wisconsin to kick for the Badgers and is considered one of the top punters in the country); Lee Severson hadn't recovered from ankle surgery; Adams had to find a point guard; and even the coach started the year with hip surgery.

It's a credit to Adams, his staff and his kids that they are in Madison this week.

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And speaking of credit, a tip of the hat to low-key, media-shy Tim Arndorfer, who took his Red Raiders to state in his first year as head coach and for the first time since 2002.

Tosa East senior starters Brice Powell, Jake Barnett, D.J. Cupertino and Tony Walls are playing like they are on a mission - win the state title for the first time since 1989. These four guys have carried this team down the stretch.

Barnett scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half and then Powell took over in the second half scoring 14 of his 18 points in the 62-60 win over Milwaukee Custer in the sectional semi-finals. Then when King held Barnett/Powell to six points in the first half of the title game, Walls (8) and Cupertino (7) kept the Red Raiders from getting blown out at half, trailing only 29-21.

Trailing, 38-34, going into the final period, Cupertino put on one of the best clutch performances I have seen, as he scored eight points down the stretch, including two huge 3-pointers.

Madison Memorial (21-2), Germantown (22-1) and the Red Raiders are the team to watch in Madison.

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Just a comment on the type of kid Jamil Wilson is. When Brookfield East's girls team clobbered Racine Horlick in a regional semi-final game, Wilson was in the stands, cheering on the Lady Rebels. At half-time when the Spartanettes dance team did a rap dance, Wilson was cheering them and dancing in the stands.

Three nights later at the Horlick Sectional, following his team's win over West Allis Hale, Wilson showed off his dancing skills again. At half-time of the Central-Racine Case game, the Lancer fans came out of the stands at half-time to dance to the electric slide in front of the bleachers. Wilson then jumped out of the Horlick stands and joined in and the Rebel fans followed. About 150 kids from two different schools were dancing together and having fun. Even the Horlick PA announcer acknowledged the impromptu dance and asked the audience to give them a round of applause.

That, my friends, is what high school athletics is all about.

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Agree or disagree, post your comments.

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Follow all the action on BrookfieldNOW.com and WauwatosaNOW.com as I'll be blogging right from courtside.

 And remember to always be a hit and have a ball.

When Sussex Hamilton's sensational sophomore guard Kameron Cerroni (I can't write his name without sensational sophomore in front of it) drained a 3-point shot at the buzzer last Friday to beat Bookfield Central, it took some of the drama out of the Lancers game with Wauwatosa East Thursday night.

Some of the drama.

Instead of playing for the title outright, the Lancers need a victory to share the title. Since the Red Raiders already own a share of the title, they probably like the idea of keeping the whole thing to themselves for first-year coach Tim Arndorfer.

Central won the first game, 53-51, taking a 47-39 lead into the fourth quarter, only to see the Red Raiders press and trap in the fourth quarter and work themselves back into the game, tying the score with two minutes left.

The disciplined Lancers then ran about a minute and one half off the clock looking for a layup and got it when Mitch Aprahamian, standing on the top of the key, turned and drilled a pass to Luke Duckett, who scored on an easy layup for the win.

One of the things that have changed since the last meeting is the improved play of point guard Tony Walls for Tosa East. Coming off a severe knee injury, Walls was all over the floor in win a over West Allis Hale last Friday, getting key rebounds, making key passes and scoring 11 points.

In the first meeting this year Central star Cory Degner scored 17 points and left Walls behind with his quick moves to the basket.

On Central's side, the improved play of Mitch Aprahamian and Aaron Hurley will be a key for the Lancers, not only in this game but in the post-season.

For a detailed analysis of both teams check out the BrookfieldNOW and WauwatosaNOW newspapers where I compare frontcourts, backcourts, benches, coaches and intangibles.

The other battle to watch should be fun and it will happen off the court as the Lancer fans will be bringing their game to Tosatown to take on the energetic Red Raider backers.

Folks, it doesn't get better than this.

Agree with me or not, don't be shy, leave a comment.

And remember to always be a hit and have a ball.

If you have seen the Brookfield East girls' offense lying around somewhere, please give basketball coach Tara Schmitt a call.

The Lady Spartans, who were sitting pretty in the Greater Metro Conference race just a week ago with a 4-1 record, have dropped two straight games to West Allis schools, scoring 28 and 35 points in losses to Central and Hale. Tuesday night they have a huge game with first-place Brookfield Central.

What makes East's loss to Hale particularly galling, it snapped a 21-game GMC losing streak for the Huskies, going back to Feb. 10, 2006. Trailing, 36-33, with seconds remaining, Schmitt called time-out, hoping to get a game-tying 3-point attempt from Ashley Yttre. Schmitt also had a back-up plan if Yttre was covered, tossing the ball inside instead and then hoping for a kickback out for another 3-point try.

Yttre was covered, the ball went inside, and instead of kicking the ball back out, the player tossed in a two-point bucket as time expired.

Please keep all sharp instruments away from Schmitt.

***

Brookfield Central's Cory Degner, who scored 53 points in wins over Marquette (23) and Menomonee Falls (30), has impressed Tosa East coach Tim Arndorfer.

"If I had to vote for the conference's player of the year - and not take one of my players - I would think it would have to be Cory Degner right now. He does everything for that team."

Forced to play point guard to start the year, Degner runs the offense, hits 3-pointers, drives to the basket, hits free throws and comes through whenever the Lancers need a big bucket. He even finds time to play defense.

***

Speaking of the Red Raiders, Tosa East has beaten the last three opponents by 32, 24 and 29 points, using a good defense to get easy offensive points.

But coach Tim Arndorfer and his staff - looking down the road against Brookfield Central and West Allis Hale, as well as to the post-season because the Red Raiders play in the sectional from hell - keep focusing on the half-court offense. Against good teams, Tosa East is going to have to be disciplined enough to score half-court points as well.

***

If you know Tosa West girls basketball coach Mike Pietrowiak, he could win a game 50-0 and still find something wrong. But I thought I saw a hint of a smile the other day after the Trojans won their third straight game and fourth in six tries.

Pietrowiak plays only two seniors - Ellen Coleman and Anastasia Williams - a lot of minutes and relies on three sophomores and two juniors most of the time. If the Trojans continue to improve, Pietrowiak will have to work on that smiley face more often.

***

Agree or disagree, don't be afraid to let me know.

Until later in the week, remember to always be a hit and have a ball. 

With most athletes off until later this week because of exam week, let's take a look at some highlights from the past week in Brookfield and Wauwatosa prep sports.

Wauwatosa East's 160-pounder Nick Morin became the all-time winningest wrestler in Tosa history by winning four matches last week (103-34). He surpassed Jake Benedict's 102 victories from 2001-05.

DSHA basketball coach Scott Witt felt as if his team lost the Greater Metro Conference title last Friday when the young Brookfield Central Lady Lancers beat the pre-season favorite Dashers, 45-38. "They (BC) have to lose two games and I don't think that's going to happen," Witt said. "I think it's between us and Brookfield East for second place."

The young Lancers only have two seniors in the top seven of their rotation and junior Joana Bielefeld (11.5 PPG) and sophomore Erin Lueder (12.5) are two of the GMC's top players. But that won't stop Dan Wandrey from worrying, because Central's head coach is the GMC's version of Lou Holtz.

Tosa West's Jesse Zeisse was inserted into the starting lineup for Andrea Kwak last week, when Kwak missed a practice. The results worked out great for both girls. Zeisse scored nine points in a win over Greenfield and then Kwak scored 10 in a double overtime win over Whitnall including four in the second overtime.

Brookfield Central handed Wauwatosa East a 53-51 loss on Jan. 15 and pulled into a first-place tie with the state-ranked Red Raiders. A couple things came out of this game. The key to the game was Central's discipline in their half-court offense, as the Lancers didn't fall apart after East rallied from a 10-point deficit. Central ran time off the clock in the final minutes, looking for a lay-up. Unsung hero Mitch Aprahamian was at the top of the key when he whipped a pass to Luke Duckett driving to the basket for a lay-up and the win.

The Central scoreboard had a short circuit (or something), because it went out a few minutes before the start of the second half, in the third quarter and then with two minutes left to play. When East's Tony Walls grabbed a loose ball and called time-out while flying out of bounds there was then a few seconds of controversy over whether the clock expired.

Tosa East's Hannah Weinberg-Kinsey has averaged 11.3 PPG, scoring 16, 8 and 10 points since breaking the middle finger on her shooting hand. She improved her scoring over three points per game. There is no truth to the rumor coach Rob Hamill is thinking of having the rest of his squad wear similiar splints.

After starting the season with 13 straight losses the co-op team of Wauwatosa East/West/New Berlin Eisenhower/West/Whitnall (now that's a mouthful) won their first hockey game, 6-2, over Oconomowc on Saturday.

Wauwatosa East boys basketball team plays three games this week, two against "rivals."

The Red Raiders (6-0, 11-0) travel to Brookfield Central tonight (4-1, 8-3) to face the Lancers, who next to Marquette, are Tosa East's biggest Greater Metro Conference rival. When Tosa East plays the Hilltoppers, it is no secret that there is not a lot of love between the teams (in most sports), despite the politically correct quotes the coaches give out.

But when Brookfield Central and Tosa East meet, there is a rivalry that drips with respect.

"Sure they (Red Raiders) are one of our rivals," said Central coach Mark Adams, who also deals with crosstown rival Brookfield East, "but it is a 'good' rivalry, a 'favorable' one. There is a respect we have for each other."

Usually when you look at the GMC standings every year, it's Tosa East, Marquette and the Lancers battling for the top spot. Thus the establishment of a rivalry with those three teams, more so than with some of the others in the conference.

"Traditionally Brookfield Central always stood out," Tosa East coach Tim Arndorfer said. "I enjoy the excitement of going to Central and them coming here. When you play them the first time, you know you will see them again. Beyond Marquette, Brookfield Central has the competitive history in this conference, always pushing for the top. You want to get the upper hand on your rival. There is great talent coming out of both schools and it (the rivalry) is expanding to other sports."

After battling with George Haas for years, the veteran Adams will be matching wits with Arndorfer this week, something Arndorfer is looking forward to.

 "On a personal level, to coach against someone like Mark Adams, well I'm looking forward to that. I hope to run a quality program like Mark does. They do it the right way."

After facing Central Tuesday and Hamilton Friday, the annual battle of Tosa takes place this year at East on Saturday. Once again, like it or not, this is a game that means more to West than East, but means the most to the city.

Former coaches Haas and West's Brian Rusk started the rivalry again a few years back and it is a fun night and the gym will be packed Saturday night and it doesn't matter that East is on top of the GMC and West is near the bottom of the Woodland Conference North.

It will be West first-year coach Mike Landisch, a coach with ties with both schools, first time on the sidelines running the show for the Trojans.

This is a different rivalry than the Brookfield Central one, but it is a game that should always be played.

Agree with me or not, don't be afraid to comment.

And remember, always be a hit and have a ball.