Sports

Fri
10
Apr
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Van Buren, Deptula earn all-Big 8 honors

Middleton’s boys basketball team didn't win as many games as it hoped for this season, finishing the year 9-14 overall.

But the Cardinals were still recognized when it came to all-Big Eight Conference honors.

Senior center Parker Van Buren and senior guard Cole Deptula were both named second-team all-league.

“Our strength offensively clearly went through Parker and Cole as both scorers and as playmakers for their teammates,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “Both were as fine of young men as we have had the pleasure to coach, and we expect their best days as athletes to be ahead of them.’

Deptula led the Cardinals in scoring at 14.5 points per game. He shot 85.7% from the free throw line, tied the school record with seven three-point baskets against Verona, averaged 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Thu
02
Apr
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MHS coaches, athletes fight through the unknown

Anger.

Sadness.

Frustration.

Loneliness.

Those are the emotions swirling around coaches, athletes and the Middleton sporting community as all activities have been placed on hold in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

By now, spring sports would be in full swing. But with Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issuing a “Safer at Home” order through April 24, spring sports seem to be on life support.

Last week, the Middleton Times-Tribune talked with several spring coaches about how they’re proceeding in these unprecedented times. Here are some of their responses.

 

1.    What do you have your athletes doing right now? Individual workouts only? Anything else?

Thu
02
Apr
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Evers closes golf courses

The great, but somewhat crusty Mark Twain once proclaimed: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”

The way many golf courses in the area feel, Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has also spoiled their good walk.

Evers issued a “Safer At Home” order on March 25 stating that non-essential businesses must close in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In that order, Evers listed golf courses among non-essential businesses, but allowed other outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and walking to continue.

Evers’ order — which runs through April 24 — left many in the golf arena both shocked and confused.

Fri
27
Mar
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Five girls basketball players named all-Big 8

Middleton’s girls basketball team had a dream season — even if it ended prematurely.

And the Cardinals were recently rewarded for their efforts.

Senior forward Sitori Tanin was named first-team all-Big Eight Conference. Senior guard Josie Lemirande, senior forward Karina Bursac and sophomore wing McKenna Monogue were all named second-team all-conference, while senior guard Evie Coleman earned honorable-mention all-conference honors.

Tanin, a three-year starter and a University of Loyola recruit, had her best season yet. Tanin led the Cardinals in scoring (14.6), rebounding (10.8) and assists (3.2). Tanin was also second in steals (1.7), shot 45.2% from the floor and 68.0% from the free throw line.

Fri
27
Mar
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A game by game look at Middleton's girls basketball season

Editor’s Note: The Middleton girls basketball team finished the year 25-1, won a share of the Big Eight Conference championship and reached the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

The Cardinals were the No. 1 seed at state, and the first state championship in school history seemed quite possible. But less than 24 hours before Middleton’s state semifinal game, the WIAA canceled the season due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

The Times-Tribune was planning a special section devoted to Middleton’s terrific year if the Cardinals had won the state title. We’ll never know if that would have happened or not, but we’d like to devote this space to look back on Middleton’s magnificent season.

What follows is a short look at each of Middleton’s games from a memorable 2019-’20 season.

 

1.    Middleton 54, Waunakee 34

Wed
18
Mar
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MARCH SADNESS

This was not the way it was supposed to end.

Josie Lemirande and her Middleton girls basketball teammates dreamed of hoisting a gold ball at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament in Green Bay last weekend.

Instead, roughly 19 hours before the Cardinals’ state semifinal game with Oconomowoc, Lemirande heard a knock on her hotel door.

“We were all sleeping,” said Lemirande, who was sharing a room with teammates Sitori Tanin, Karina Bursac and Kendall Roquet. “Nobody wanted to get the door, so I finally did. And I as I was going there, I just had a bad feeling.”

With good reason.

The WIAA made the difficult decision of canceling all remaining winter sports — including the girls’ state basketball tournament — due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. And now, several Cardinals were at the door with the heartbreaking news.

Wed
18
Mar
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Jeff Kind just can't catch a break

Jeff Kind, Middleton’s girls basketball coach, insists you shouldn’t shed a tear for him.

Kind has taken 11 different teams to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

He’s helped the Cardinals win at least a share of 11 Big Eight Conference titles since the 2006-’07 season.

And he’s had a large hand in making countless girls better basketball players — and human beings — during his more than four decades in coaching.

But it’s hard not to have a bit of sympathy for Kind these days.

The one thing that has eluded Kind — his white whale, if you will — is a state championship. Middleton’s 2020 team seemed poised to change all of that, to capture the first state title in school history and reward Kind with his first-ever gold ball.

Amazingly, though, this year’s tournament was cancelled on March 19 due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

If it wasn’t for bad luck at the state tournament, Kind wouldn’t have any.

Thu
12
Mar
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WIAA to restrict attendance at basketball tournaments

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Middleton's girls basketball team will play in the WIAA Division 1 state tournament Friday and Saturday. But most fans will have to watch it on television.

The WIAA, in accordance with policies and guidance from public health organizations and the World Health Organization for mass gatherings, annpunced Thursday morning that it will be limiting attendance at the remainder of all winter tournament events scheduled March 12-14 and March 19-21.

The guidelines for mass gatherings calls for restriction of public events to 50-250 attendees, depending on the event and venue. This pandemic has created unprecedented circumstances that make these decisions and actions prudent and necessary.

Tue
10
Mar
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Middleton rallies its way to state

MONONA — Thirteen. Nine. Five. One.

As their deficit kept shrinking, their energy kept rising. The noise inside Monona Grove High School rivaled a Metallica concert.

And Middleton’s girls basketball team — which has been the hunted throughout this magical season — was thriving in its new role as the hunter.

“As soon as we started chipping away, you could feel everything changing,” Cardinals senior forward Karina Bursac. “We knew if we just kept playing like that, we had ‘em.”

They sure did.

Middleton, which trailed Madison Memorial, 37-24, at halftime of its WIAA Division 1 sectional final last Saturday, opened the second half on a stunning 20-3 run. The Spartans battled back and forged ties at three different points, but the Cardinals used a late 6-0 run to post a thrilling 61-58 win.

Tue
10
Mar
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Middleton gunning for first-ever state title

Jeff Kind has taken Middleton’s girls basketball program to the state tournament a remarkable nine times since 2008. Overall, Kind has led the Cardinals to state 12 times since 1993.

In that stretch, Middleton has reached the state championship game four times, but is 0-4 in title contests.

Can 2020 finally be the year Kind and the Cardinals bring home a gold ball?

Middleton earned a trip back to state last Saturday with a thrilling 61-58 win over Madison Memorial in a WIAA Division 1 sectional final.

The Cardinals are now the No. 1 seed at the state tournament will battle fourth-seeded Oconomowoc in a state semifinal game on Friday at 6:35 at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Second-seeded and defending state champion Bay Port meets third-seeded Divine Savior Holy Angels in the other semifinal game.

The winners advance to the state championship game Saturday at approximately 8:15 p.m.

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