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D1 Semi-Final Notes: Kettle Moraine and Brookfield East to meet in title game

03/11/2023, 3:45pm CST
By Norbert Durst

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The Brookfield East Spartans are headed to the Division 1 state championship game. 

The Spartans topped Germantown, 65-60, in a state semifinal. 

Brookfield East trailed the bulk of the game, including by as many as 13 points in the first half before outscoring Germantown 42-28 in the second half to earn the victory. 

Freshman Maya Kovacic, a 5-7 guard, scored a game-high 21 points for the Spartans. 

Senior guard Annika Pluemer, a 5-9 Maryville recruit, added 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 

Joining Kovacic and Pluemer in double figures were senior Maddy McGath (6-3) and sophomore Addison Doyle (5-6) who tallied 11 points each. 

Another key performer for coach Tyler Saxton and the Spartans was junior guard Shae Kelley (5-10) who contributed three points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and four steals. 

Germantown got a team-high 19 points from sophomore Madeline Jakusz (5-10), who made nine of 11 from the free throw line. 

Senior point guard KK Arnold, who was named Ms. Basketball by the WBCA, finished with 17 points. The UConn recruit added eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the loss for coach Matt Stuve and the Warhawks. 

Brookfield East is making its first appearance in a state championship game since 1984. The Spartans will meet defending Division 1 state champion Kettle Moraine in the state title game.  

The Kettle Moraine Lasers will try to become the first Division 1 team to repeat as WIAA state champions since Appleton North completed the feat (2017, 2018). 

The Lasers ended the first half on an 18-1 run to lead 35-24 at the break and led by as many as 18 points in the second half on their way to the 77-67 win over Hortonville in a D1 state semifinal. 

Senior Grace Grocholski, a 5-10 West Virginia recruit, finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the Lasers. 

Joining her in double figures for coach Todd Hansen and the Lasers were 5-11 junior Brianna Binagi (14 points), 5-5 junior Riley Haertle (13 points), 5-8 senior Braelyn Torres (12 points).

Torres, a Northern Michigan recruit, added seven rebounds, four steals, three blocks, and two steals. 

Hortonville was led by sophomore Rainey Welson, a 5-9 guard, who scored a game-high 28 points and added five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. 

Senior Trinity Mocadlo (5-8, Lynn University recruit) and junior MiKayla Werner (6-0) tallied 15 and 13 points, respectively, for coach A.C. Clouthier and the Polar Bears which finished the year with a 25-4 record. 

Kettle Moraine (27-1) will play Brookfield East for the Division 1 state title at 8:15 on Saturday. 

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