The Roncalli boys’ basketball team is two victories away from playing at the Kohl Center in Madison.
You’ve heard the saying that it feels as good as slipping on those old pair of shoes you’ve had for years.
Well, maybe not that comfortable as the Roncalli Jets, fresh off a regional title victory over crosstown rival Manitowoc Lutheran last Saturday night, head to Chilton Thursday night (March 12th) to battle the Howards Grove Tigers in a WIAA Division Four Sectional semifinal.
Head Coach Josh Erickson tells SeehaferNews.com that March is “always special. The past few years, we’ve been able to enjoy it, but it’s something we never take for granted. We are blessed to still be dancing.”
The Jets have won 20 games this season playing the game the old-fashioned way: tough man-to-man defense, rebounding, taking care of the basketball, and running offense to get the best possible shot.
Those so-called basics helped them defeat Laconia and the Lancers to advance, which included says Erickson making 37 of 47 free throws to keep their opponents at bay.
“We were 18 for 19 (from the line) Friday and not as good, but good enough to advance Saturday,” he explained. “We knew how good Manitowoc Lutheran was and they wanted it just as much as we did. We did not want them to take it from us and did just enough good things to defeat them and advance.”
Next up, Howards Grove.
The top-seeded Tigers have won 20 games as well, having won eight straight, including a victory over four-seed Winnebago Lutheran Academy of Fond Du Lac in the regional final last Saturday.
They feature a tough, physical lineup, led by junior Trace Damrow, who leads the way, averaging almost 20 points per game.
Senior Keaton Milbrath averages better than 17 per contest, sophomore Harry Schroeder scores 15 per game, and junior McCoy Milbrath averages a little more than 10 points per contest.
Coach Erickson knows his team will have its hands full.
”They’re big and physical and can get to the rim and create easy shots,” he noted. “They’re very well coached and solid defensively. They’re a top seed for a reason and have played well all year so we have our hands full and are dialed in on preparing for what it will take to play and be successful on Thursday.”
But numbers only tell half of the story, with the Jets Head Coach telling us it’ll come down to managing the nerves.
”When two good teams play each other, it always comes down to tight situations and moments and who stays the course,” Coach Erickson said. “I think that composure and resilience decide games like this, and whoever can check those boxes and execute their game plan best will eventually decide the outcome.”
Coverage on “WOMT 100” and WOMTRadio.com begins tomorrow night at 6:40 p.m.
