WATERTOWN — The locker room was virtually empty now.
Middleton boys basketball coach Kevin Bavery had spoken to his team for 30 minutes. He spent another 20 minutes talking to the local media.
With the recorders off and the players gone, the reality that Middleton’s surprising season had come to an end had now fully registered.
“Damn,” Bavery said. “Damn.”
And really, not much more needed to be said.
In a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday night, Madison Memorial got the best of Middleton for a 20th straight time. The Spartans erased an early 17-6 deficit, played stifling defense the rest of the way, and downed the Cardinals, 59-49.
Middleton, which hasn’t defeated Memorial since Feb. 3, 2005, ended its year 14-11. Memorial improved to 21-4 and will face Mukwonago (21-4) Saturday in search of its 10th straight trip to state.