The Roncalli Jets Boys Basketball team sits in a familiar position as a year ago; two victories away from a trip to the state tournament in Madison.
First, they need to defeat Cedar Grove/Belgium in a WIAA Division Four Sectional semifinal in Kohler.
The Rockets advanced with a 72 to 58 victory over Reedsville last Saturday night, while Roncalli came from eight down to defeat St. Mary’s Springs of Fond Du Lac 66 to 59 at The Hangar.
Head Coach Josh Erickson says defense keyed the comeback, and with the game tied at 52, the Jets made nine consecutive free throws and 13 of 15 in the second half.
“It didn’t look like anyone was afraid to step up to the free throw line and knock them down,” he told SeehaferNews.com. “It’s one thing to make them in an open gym, but another when the lights are shining, and everyone is watching. Making our free throws was one of the keys to winning Saturday night.”
Roncalli, with a record of 24 and 2, are champions of the Eastern Wisconsin Conference, and have been ranked for most of the year.
The Jets arguably play one of the toughest non-conference schedules of the year, which Erickson says has prepared them for the month of March.
”We’ve faced so many different good teams and styles of play,” he said. “Those games state stacking up and they prepare you for the month of March.”
Cedar Grove/Belgium will be another one of those teams.
They finished fifth in The Big East South Division and were just 11 and 12 during the regular season, but have won four straight games, including an 83 to 81 victory at state-ranked Kohler last Friday.
The Rockets are led by junior guards Owen Gulke and Carter Schmitz, who average 19-point-four and 17-point-four-points per game, respectively.
CRB has also been lighting up the scoreboard in the postseason, averaging better than 76 points per game, so for those who look at records thinking that the Jets should win the game?
“It doesn’t matter what you did as a team during the regular season. It matters what type of team you are right now,” Erickson noted. “We know that and are focused on what’s next. Last year gave us a taste of what big-time tournament basketball feels like, but now we must go out there and earn our keep against a good Rockets team to advance to Saturday night.”
Coverage on 1240 WOMT and WOMTRadio.com begins at 6:40 p.m.
