Assumption wins D5 girls state basketball title
ASHWAUBENON - This year it was Assumption’s turn.
Settling for the silver trophy the past two years, the Royals went out and grabbed their second Division 5 championship in four years, leading from opening tip to final buzzer.
Led by Gena Grundhoffer and Olivia Skibba, who combined for 38 points, Assumption beat Barneveld 62-45 on Saturday at the Resch Center during the WIAA girls state tournament. The win avenged an early season loss to the Golden Eagles.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Assumption coach Joe Birhauser said. “The kids stuck to the game plan and executed it. The girls did an amazing job of defending, rebounding and taking care of the ball today.”
It was the fourth straight state championship meeting between Assumption (25-4) and Barneveld (28-1), with each team now having won a pair of titles at the Resch Center. Assumption claimed the 2013 championship, and Barneveld had won two straight before this season.
During the four-year stretch, the small school rivals have split eight meetings. Barneveld holds a slim 6-5 lead since meetings dating back to 2005.
“A lot of things have to right to win here and our hard work and dedication paid off today,” said Skibba, who finished with 18 points. “Our coaches always tell us that our effort and attitude is all we can control. We stress team basketball and if you watched our tournament run, we really showed how we play as a team.”
After leading 27-22 at the break, Assumption seized control of the game in the second half, jumping out to a 40-25 lead with a 13-3 run. The Eagles cut into the Royals' lead on several occasions, but could never get back within single digits.
“Our defense was the key early in the second half,” Skibba said. “We transitioned our defense into our offense. At the Dells we had a lead in the first half, but we didn’t finish that game, but today we had our run in the second half.”
Starting the run in the second half was senior Autumn Linzmeier, who scored five quick points and fellow senior Macyn Krings capped it with steal and basket.
Barneveld broke a three-minute scoreless stretch when Hannah Whitish made a layup with 12:58 left to make it 40-27. Whitish, a Nebraska recruit, led all scorers with 24 points and was named WBCA Miss Basketball.
“We knew going into the season our Achilles Heel was our size,” Barneveld coach Doug Pickarts said. “Assumption beat us with their size. I told the girls in the locker room that I didn’t think they lost that game, I think Assumption just won.”
For the eight Assumption seniors, going out on top was what they hoped for. Grundhoffer was uncharacteristically emotional when she left the game with the victory in hand.
“I was crying because I was so happy, but I was also sad because I won’t be coaches by any of these amazing coaches anymore, or play with my teammates and it just kind of hit me when I came out of the game. It was a really good way to finish (my career). I wouldn’t want anything else.”
BARNEVELD ... 22 23 - 45
ASSUMPTION ... 27 35 - 62
BARNEVELD: Pickarts 4, H. Whitish, 24, M. Whitish 10, Schave 5, Malin 2. 3-pointers: H. Whitish, M. Whitish, Schave. FT: 6-9. Fouls: 12.
ASSUMPTION: Krings 5, Linzmeier 7, Zurfluh 10, Grundhoffer 20, Skibba 18, Wendels 2. 3-pointers: Krings, Linzmeier. FT: 12-16. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Linzmeier.
