Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

By Dick Knapinski
For WisSports.net

Worth the wait

The trophy case at Germantown High School may have to wrestle the Division 1 championship trophy from senior Zak Showalter, if the scene in the Kohl Center interview room after the Warhawks’ 72-69 win over Milwaukee King on Saturday night is any indication.

“So many practices since fifth grade, so much sweat, so much blood,” said Showalter, who scored 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half as Germantown hung on against the high-pressure Generals.

“All the battles for all 15 of us this year, and now to be sitting here with this (trophy) is so amazing,” he said of the trophy that was his handhold or the prop-up spot for his head throughout the postgame media session.

Zak’s father, Germantown coach Steve Showalter, had experienced bitter losses in tournament play in past year’s ranging from two previous losses in state tournament openers to last season’s Super Tuesday loss at the buzzer to Appleton East.

“I hope the morning never comes,” Steve said when asked what he’ll do Sunday morning after finally reaching the goal of a state title on Saturday night. “Without crying here, it’s better than I ever imagined. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve experienced in my basketball life.”

Always another side

King coach Jim Gosz appeared without any King players in his media session, which lasted less than five minutes.

“It was an extremely tough loss,” he said. “We did not shoot the ball well and we did not play well tonight.”

Last-second drama

Germantown led over the last 6½ minutes of the game, but the Generals would not fall despite being wobbled several times.

Even the final King possession, which came after Josh Mongan hit two free throws with 6.9 seconds left to give the Warhawks a 72-69 lead, caused breathing lapses throughout the arena.

King had two looks at a tying three-pointer, once with three seconds remaining, then off a long rebound just before the buzzer.

“We had our shooters in there,” he said. “The first one was a little long and we hurried it a little bit. But we had seniors taking the shots and we had confidence in both of those guys.”

On the Germantown side, meanwhile, the collective exhale was held until the final horn sounded.

“When they shot that desperation three, my heart just stopped,” Germantown center Luke Fischer said.

“All I could think of (last year’s loss to) Appleton East all over again,” Zak Showalter said of King’s final rebound shot.

War of wills

The Generals scored 30 of its points off 13 Germantown turnovers as they maintained their relentless pressure throughout the game, in which neither team led by more than seven points.

“I thought we played pretty tough but we still couldn’t put them away,” Steve Showalter said. “I told our guys, ‘Don’t make me sit up at that (media) table afterwards and say we weren’t ready for their pressure.’ We knew it coming, but every trip up the floor was a war.”

That constant pressure was King’s best hope, since it couldn’t match the Warhawks’ size.

“We don’t have anything 6-11, 6-7, 6-5,” Gosz said after his team forced 20 turnovers. “We have 6-2 kids who battle. That’s who we are.”

Fischer finished with 19 points, often from feeds in the halfcourt after the Warhawks finally beat the pressure.

“We told Luke all weekend that this was his tournament,” Steve Showalter said. “Once we got to the final four and away from (sectional final opponent) De Pere, we didn’t think there was anyone left in this tournament that could match up with him inside.”

There’s another one?

While Zak Showalter sat much of the first half in foul trouble, his sophomore brother Jake helped pick up the slack with three 3-pointers in 16 minutes of floor time.

“He’s an unbelievable shooter,” Zak said. “I didn’t say anything to him but he hit some clutch shots and this was more important than any other game that he’s been a part of.”

Creating a foul mood

Gosz was asked about Germantown’s 29-of-37 shooting at the free throw line, compared to 10 attempts for the Generals.

Many of those fouls were called as part of King’s ball pressure.

“I don’t think a team has shot 37 free throws (against King) in my 22 years of coaching,” he said.

Madison: Point/counterpoint

Each coach was asked his thoughts on the possibility that Saturday’s Division 1 title game could be the last in Madison for some time, if the WIAA opts to move the state tournament to Green Bay as early as next March.

“This is what you dream of, coming to Madison,” Steve Showalter said. “I hope it stays, I hope they figure it out, but I’ll keep coaching and trying to get the next one.”

Gosz, meanwhile, said the tourney might be ready for a change, given the atmosphere in Madison on a warm, sunny St. Patrick’s Day.

“I’d be the first one up in Green Bay; I think they’d do a great job,” he said. “Walking along State Street, I don’t think anybody knew there was a state tournament going on. Maybe a change is good to make this a Final Four experience with the town embracing it. If Madison doesn’t want us, come on, Green Bay, let’s go.”