The ball hasn’t gone in the basket as much this season.
The defense hasn’t been as stingy.
The wins have come with less frequency.
But for one glorious stretch on Feb. 19, everything came together for Middleton’s boys basketball team. And in the process, Cardinals’ head coach Kevin Bavery notched a historic win.
Middleton finished its game against visiting Janesville Craig on a 17-0 run and rallied for an improbable 71-68 win. It was the 400th victory of Bavery’s career, with 196 of those wins coming at Middleton.
“It’s a sign of longevity and having a great staff,” Bavery said of winning his 400th game. “If you’re going to (coach) this long, you’ve got to love the game, which I obviously do.
“What stands out more than anything, though, are the relationships. You don't forget those.”
It’s a good bet that Bavery and his team won't forget win No. 400 either.