2022-23 Season Review
We knew we had an experience group coming into the season. We were led by returning starters and seniors Kendal Stingle, Kiley Dorn and Abbie Daniels, but I knew that we played a v ery challenging schedule and that the conference would be really tough this season. We really liked the makeup of this team and how we played during our summer league.
The season got off to a slow start and we had a 5-8 record halfway through the year. I knew that the hardest part of our schedule was ahead of us, but in those first 13 games, there were signs that we were better than the product we were putting on the floor. We beat Wild Rose at their place, which was something only 2 other teams did all season. We beat Oconto on the road, who ended the season with an 18-8 record and we beat Random Lake who was a 3 seed in the WIAA playoffs. Despite some of these victories, I still knew we weren’t playing the way we should. After our first game against Menominee Indian, we had a captains meeting and then a team meeting. We were focusing on the wrong things as a team. The culture of the program was going in a direction that we wanted and the team was suffering as a result of it. As a team we decided to make some changes by doing some things differently in practice and put the focus on creating a better culture.
After that, you could see we were a better team. Over the last 13 games, we really started to come together as a team and played team basketball. We were giving better effort. We were congratulating each other more and we were having more fun. The results started to show on the court because of this intentional effort that we poured into our culture. Those changes were magnified when we played Wittenberg for the 2nd time. After losing to them by 30 early in the season, we would end up losing by 8 the 2nd time around. A week later Wabeno-Laona would come to our place. Wabeno-Laona would end up playing in the state tournament this season. Against them, we played perhaps one of our best defensive games of the season and beat them 40-26. To hold a state qualifying team to 26 points is no small task. After all, they averaged almost 53 points a game. Then 2 days later, we played one of the more exciting games of the year against Bonduel, who would end up going 13-1 in conference. After losing to them by 30 earlier in the season, we knew we would have to play a great game. Once again came up short, but this time by only 6 points. More importantly, the team had fun in a losing effort and really competed with a very good team.
We would end up finishing the regular season with a 12-12 record and that would earn us a 6 seed for the playoffs. We earned the right to host Roncalli at home and this gave these seniors 1 last chance to play on their home court. Wee played well and earned a 25 point victory. This gave us the opportunity to go to Bonduel for the 2nd round. The atmosphere was electric, as are all games against Bonduel, thanks to our great following of fans. After falling behind by 11 points early in the game, we fought to a 3 point deficit at half time. The 2nd half was back and forth until the end of the game. We battled to tie the game and we overcame an 8 point 2nd half deficit twice before the end of the game. I was never so proud of a team in a loss than I was of this group. They fought and battled the entire night against a great team. We held Bonduel to their 4th lowest scoring game of the season and 12 points below their season average. We played with the attitude and effort that I expect out of my teams where we fight all the way to the end. This would end our season with a 13-13 record.
I would like to thank all the parents, coaches and players for all their efforts this season.
|