Sports

WAUNAKEE — The lead — a comfortable 11 points just 90 seconds earlier — was suddenly down to three.

Verona had all the momentum and was charging hard. Middleton was desperate for any kind of spark.

Enter Bria Lemirande.

The sophomore guard was the best player on the floor during the Cardinals’ WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal with the Wildcats Thursday. And at crunch time, Lemirande was her absolute best.

Lemirande drained a cold-blooded three-pointer that stopped Verona’s rally and gave Middleton a 64-58 lead. The Cardinals went on to a 71-59 win and advanced to Saturday’s sectional final against Janesville Craig at 1 p.m. in Sun Prairie.

“That was money,” Middleton head coach Jeff Kind said. “Big players make big shots … and that was huge.”

Lemirande was huge throughout the second half, when she scored 15 of her game-high 20 points. Senior guard Elizabeth Norregaard added 19 points, including 15 in the first half.

Their scores might not be what they’ve been in past seasons.

But really, no one is complaining.

Middleton’s girls gymnastics team has returned to its March home — the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

The Cardinals won the Middleton Sectional last Saturday, with a 137.525 team score. Madison Memorial was second at 136.450 and also qualified for state, while Verona/Madison Edgewood was third (135.6750).

“Our sectional was a close, grueling race that kept everyone on their toes,” Middleton coach Kari Steck said. “It definitely was not our best meet, but that's something that is not uncommon for sectionals. The pressure the girls put on themselves is so intense.”

The Cardinals qualified for state for the 19^th time in school history. Middleton also earned a fourth straight trip to state and eighth appearance in the last nine years.

Their hope is that last Thursday proves to be a wake-up call.

Nothing more than a hiccup.

If it’s anything more, their season will be over soon.

Middleton’s boys basketball team wrapped up the regular season with a disappointing 58-55 loss at Janesville Craig.

The Cardinals slipped to 16-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Eight. Middleton finished in third place in the conference, two games back of league champion Madison Memorial (15-3, 17-5).

Craig finished the regular season tied for last place in the league at 4-14, 6-16.

“This game was a wake up call for us going into the postseason,” Middleton sophomore guard Storm Murphy said. “It does not leave me worried about the postseason at all. This is not how we usually play and it was a hiccup. We will be ready for the playoffs.”

It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

All season long, Middleton’s hockey team had used superior conditioning and depth to dominate foes in the third period.

But it was rival Madison Memorial that was the dominant team last Saturday as it shut out the Cardinals, 3-0, in a highly anticipated WIAA sectional final at Hartmeyer Ice Arena.

“We definitely underestimated them,” said Middleton senior goalie Max McConnell. “I mean we know that they have the potential to beat us like they did, but I think we came out a little overconfident that it was going to be an easy game. To their credit, they came out and played a heck of a game, but we know that we can play better than what we did and unfortunately tonight wasn’t our night.”

McConnell certainly held up his end. The senior had 43 saves and allowed just two power-play goals by the Spartans.

Jeff Kind and Angie Murphy both teach inside Middleton High School.

The majority of school days, the two cross paths at some point. When that happens this week, Kind won’t head in the other direction.

“No, I’ll probably tell her we have no chance against her team,” Kind joked.

You see, Kind also coaches Middleton’s girls basketball team, while Murphy heads nine miles south after school and coaches Verona’s girls.

These two giants will meet in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. in Waunakee. Verona (22-2) is the No. 2 seed in the sectional, while Middleton (20-4) is seeded third.

The winner advances to the sectional finals against either top-seeded Janesville Craig or No. 12 Madison Memorial Saturday at 1 p.m. in Sun Prairie.

“I expect it to be another great game again,” Kind said. “Most of them have been.”

Indeed.

It was quick, precise and brutally painful if you were on the other side.

Middleton’s girls basketball team delivered a knock out punch for the ages Saturday night. And it left Oconomowoc battered and bruised on its way out of town.

The Cardinals drilled the Raccoons with a 30-6 haymaker in the second half and cruised to an 86-48 win in a WIAA Division 1 regional final. Middleton (20-4) advanced to face Verona (22-2) in a sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. in Waunakee.

Afterwards, the visitors from Oconomowoc were certainly impressed.

“We have played some really good teams this year,” said Raccoons coach Bob Shea, whose team ended the year 14-10. “But this is probably the best team we’ve played.

“They play at such a different speed. You can’t simulate what just happened here.”

Twelve months ago, Madison West ended Middleton’s hockey season.

Tuesday night, the Cardinals returned the favor.

Middleton toppled the Regents, 3-1, in a WIAA sectional semifinal held at Capitol Ice Arena. The Cardinals improved to 19-5-2 and earned a trip to the sectional finals against Madison Memorial.

That game is Saturday at 6 p.m. at Hartmeyer Ice Arena. Middleton will be bidding for the fourth trip to state in school history.

“I thought our defensive core played really, really strong,” Middleton coach Steffon Walby said. “We played all four lines and every line contributed.”

Middleton’s offense did enough to advance. But it was the play of senior goalie Max McConnell and his defensive mates that stole the show.

McConnell had 27 saves, a .964 save percentage and posted the win.

“Max really held us in there,” Walby said.

The Big Eight Conference boys basketball race will be decided this week.

And amazingly, Middleton is still in the hunt to claim a share of the title.

The Cardinals had a stellar week and stayed in the hunt for league supremacy.

Middleton rolled past host Madison La Follette, 86-48, last Tuesday. The Cardinals then toppled Beloit Memorial, 49-46, last Friday.

Middleton improved to 16-5 overall and is 13-4 in the Big Eight. If Verona (9-8, 13-8) upsets league-leading Madison Memorial (14-3, 16-5) Thursday and Middleton topples Janesville Craig (3-14, 5-16), the Cardinals can earn a share of the title.

Middleton’s win over La Follette was one of its most impressive of the season. Amazingly, the Cardinals’ advantage eclipsed 40 points at one point, which led to a running clock.

Momentum. Confidence. Optimism.

Middleton’s girls basketball team seemingly has all three as the postseason arrives.

The Cardinals notched their most impressive win of the year last Saturday, cruising past host Janesville Craig, 70-51. Middleton also defeated Beloit Memorial, 98-26, last Thursday.

Middleton finished the regular season 18-4 overall. The Cardinals also finished 15-3 in the Big Eight Conference, one game behind co-champions Janesville Craig and Verona.

Middleton, the No. 3 seed in its sectional, now hosts 14^th-seeded Madison West Friday at 7 p.m. in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal. If the Cardinals win there, as expected, they’ll host either sixth-seeded Oconomowoc or 11^th-seeded Burlington Saturday at 7 p.m. in a regional final.

And after a terrific week, the Cardinals are awfully optimistic heading into the postseason.

It’s been said that records are meant to be broken.

That theory certainly rang true for Middleton seniors Will Zocher and Rory Slattery. The pair broke the Middleton school record twice in the same event, while teammate Jacob Aegerter added a school record in another event.

Those performances led Middleton’s swimming and diving team to a seventh-place finish at the WIAA Division 1 state meet held at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium Saturday.

“The guys did everything I wanted them to do,” first-year Middleton coach Sam Niesen said. “Overall, I’m just extremely happy with the whole meet.”

Middleton finished with 118 points. Madison Memorial easily captured its fifth consecutive state title with 350.50 points. Madison West finished a distant second for the third straight year with 201 points and Cedarburg was third with 192 points.