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WSN15: Boys Basketball Top Moments #12 -- LaDew's last-second three-point basket gives Catholic Memorial title

01/22/2018, 10:00am CST
By Mark Miller

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017). 

We begin our WSN15 boys' basketball series with the Top 15 Moments of the WSN Era.


Catholic Memorial's Dan Beyer celebrates moments after Griffin LaDew's game-winning shot in 2004.

In the blink of an eye, Griffin LaDew etched his name among the most remembered in the long and storied history of the WIAA boys' state basketball tournament.

With the final seconds of the 2004 WIAA Division 2 title game clicking down on the above scoreboard, the 6-foot-1 guard from Catholic Memorial in Waukesha simply went to an open space on the floor, caught a pass from his teammate and let go with a three-point attempt from the right baseline. 

A second or two later, LaDew's shot nestled into the net, giving the Crusaders a pulsating 58-55 victory over Seymour in a battle of WIAA Division 2 heavyweights at the Kohl Center in Madison.

"Rob (Hanley) drove to the right, and I just went down the baseline," LaDew said in the media room following the contest. "Billy (Kolinske) came to Rob, and three defenders went there. I was just wide open for the three." 

The championship-game victory on March 20th, 2004 gave Catholic Memorial a 25-1 record under coach John Burns while Seymour's successful campaign under coach Jon Murphy ended at 24-2. It was the fifth consecutive Division 2 title game for Seymour and its third straight loss. 

Though Seymour had taken a 31-24 lead into intermission, most expected a tight battle in the second half between two teams ranked near the top of the Division 2 poll all season. 

And that is exactly what happened. 

A layup by Catholic Memorial's Dan Beyer tied the score at 45 with 5:04 remaining, the first of four ties in the final eight minutes of the contest.

LaDew, who went on to score more points (1,561) than any player in Cornell College (Iowa) history, hit a triple with 1:25 left to give Catholic Memorial a 55-51 lead, but Seymour's Kevin Grusczynski, who finished with 24 points, responded with a triple of his own.

Seymour's Bobby Kuchta then came up with a steal with :55 left. Steve Klass of the Thunder split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 55, setting the stage for LaDew's baseline jumper that swished through the net with just one second left, sending the large CMH cheering section into bedlam and leaving the heartbroken Thunder players sprawled across the floor in disbelief. 

Here is a boxscore of that tremendous game:

WSN15 Top Moments Countdown:

#15 - Catholic Memorial's Bray fills out stat sheet
#14 - Madison Memorial outlasting De Pere in 3 OTs to win 2011 Division 1 title
#13 - Jesperson erupts in 4th period to help Merrill upend Waunakee
#12 - LaDew drills three-pointer in closing seconds to give CMH title
#11 - Coming Soon...
#10 - Coming Soon...
#9 - Coming Soon...
#8 - Coming Soon...
#7 - Coming Soon...
#6 - Coming Soon...
#5 - Coming Soon...
#4 - Coming Soon...
#3 - Coming Soon...
#2 - Coming Soon...
#1 - Coming Soon...

For the latest and most up to date boys' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Mark on Twitter @wisbbyearbook. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Mark at wbnews@yahoo.com.

Tag(s): News Archive  BBB News  Mark Miller  WSN15