Garlock's return powers MHS' boys

OAK CREEK — Just 90 seconds had elapsed from Middleton’s boys basketball game at Oak Creek last Saturday.

Cardinals 7-foot senior center Will Garlock — who was playing his first game following offseason ankle surgery — spun baseline and threw home a monster dunk over two much smaller Knights.

Garlock was called for traveling on the play, but the tone had been set.

And when someone from the crowd yelled, “He’s back”, they were spot on.

Garlock was indeed back, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds in just 16 minutes to power Middleton to an impressive 63-55 win.

The Cardinals, who were 2-5 without Garlock, are now 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big Eight Conference. Oak Creek, which was off to a terrific start, fell to 6-2.

“I felt good,” said Garlock, a University of Wisconsin recruit. “I tried to do what I could to help the team out. A little rust, not playing for 10 months to a year now. Just tried to do what I could to contribute to the team and get a win.”

Senior forward Drew Cooney, who led Middleton with 15 points, was thrilled to have his classmate back on the floor.

“It feels great having him back,” Cooney said. “It’s nice to have him back. It’s a great option in the post and great to have another option on the floor.”

Garlock suffered his broken ankle in April, 2024, and didn't play AAU or with the Cardinals last summer. He then suffered a setback last fall, which caused him to miss the first month of the season.

Garlock used much of that time in the weight room, though, and looked like a different player physically. He also spent a lot of time working on his shot, which should pay dividends down the road.

“Nobody wanted him to go through this injury,” Middleton coach Kevin Bavery said. “But like we said at the start of the season, the silver lining is he got so much stronger. And you can tell, his footwork, his body, all the PT he’s done, and he’s done a ton of shooting and that will show over time, as well.”

Garlock was limited to 18 minutes due to the injury, and stayed below that number. Starting this week, he can play up to 75% of the game (27 minutes), and by next week, there should be no restrictions.

Middleton was allowing 69.1 points per game without Garlock. And Oak Creek was averaging 71.7 points per contest.

But with Garlock clogging the middle of Middleton’s zone, the Knights had their lowest point total of the year, while the Cardinals allowed their second fewest points of the season.

“The biggest thing I saw was in our zone, when they started penetrating middle, they changed their mind in a hurry,” Bavery said. “That was the biggest alteration. And if we hold teams to 55, we’ll win a lot of games.”

On the other end, Garlock drew double- and triple-teams every time he touched the ball. More often than not, he found an open teammate — or the Cardinals’ ball reversal led to a wide open look.

“Having him back will definitely open up more space for me, allow a lot of us to get more open shots,” Cooney said. “He’s a little bigger than me, so it gives us some more options down low and better spacing across the floor.”

Bavery tried to play Garlock in three minute increments, and the Cardinals went on an early 9-0 run in which their standout center was primarily on the floor.

Garlock scored inside to tie the game and finished the burst with a 5-foot bank shot that gave Middleton a 13-6 lead. In between, Andrew Qastin made two free throws and Jackson Guerrero drilled a 3-pointer.

Oak Creek crept within 18-14 with 7 minutes left in the half, when the Cardinals answered with another 9-0 run.

First, Cooney got loose for a lay-up, then junior guard John Grimes had a lay-up. Garlock had a traditional 3-point play where he grabbed an offensive rebound, scored, was fouled and made the free throw, then Guerrero had a steal and lay-up as the Cardinals’ lead ballooned to 27-14.

“I felt really good,” Garlock said. “I’ve been practicing for two weeks now. Overall, my ankle is really good. A little gassed out there, trying to get my lungs back, but overall, really good.”

Oak Creek closed the half on a 7-0 run, though, that included a 3-pointer at the horn and pulled within 27-21 at the break.

“I lit them up as hard as I have in a couple years at halftime,” said Bavery, whose team had nine first half turnovers. “We just didn't care of the frickin’ ball.”

Middleton quickly regained control, though, opening the second half on a 15-7 run and surging to a 42-28 lead.

Both Garlock and senior guard Riley Kann had four points in the Cardinals’ fast second half start, and senior wing Brennan Mauer drilled a triple.

“Say what you will about (Oak Creek), who they’ve played and maybe their conference isn’t the greatest,” Bavery said. “But they came in (6-1). That’s not easy to do.”

Oak Creek crept back within 48-42 with 5 minutes left, as its pressure continued to give the Cardinals trouble.

Down the stretch, though, the even-keeled Cooney made six straight free throws at one point to keep the Knights at bay.

“He’s just so steady,” Bavery said of Cooney.

The Cardinals now hope Garlock provides the steadiness they were missing at the outset of the year, as well.

The good news for Middleton is with Garlock out, others emerged and showed they could be major contributors.

Guerrero shined on both ends of the floor, while Kann showed that his game is dramatically improved from last year. Cooney proved that he can be a force on both ends of the floor, while Mauer is a lights-out shooter.

Qastin and Grimes are defensive pests, and senior guard Josh Tpisis has given MHS some quality minutes off the bench, as well. Add it up and the Cardinals could have enough weapons to make a second half charge.

“I think with Will out, it gave a lot of our younger guys some experience — especially like the juniors that are coming up that didn’t have the experience on the varsity level,” Cooney said. “Now they have that experience and hopefully it allows us to excel as much as possible.”

Garlock is expecting just that.

“I want to win a state championship my senior year,” he said. “Right now I’m just focused on what we have in front of us and all the games we have left and making this a great year.”

Jan. 4

Middleton 63, Oak Creek 55

Middleton …………..… 27 36 — 63

Oak Creek …. 21 34 — 55

MIDDLETON (fg ft-fta pts) — Jackson Guerrero 3 3-4 10, Riley Kann 2 4-5 8, Drew Cooney 4 6-8 15, Brennan Mauer 1 0-0 3, Will Garlock 6 2-8 14, John Grimes 3 0-0 6, Andrew Qastin 1 5-6 7. Totals 20 20-31 63.

OAK CREEK — Cam Davitz 4 0-2 8, Ja’Quan Turner 4 0-0 9, Michael Busateri 2 0-0 5, Noah Daniel 2 3-3 7, Tyson Busch 1 0-0 3, Daniel Franklin 3 3-5 9, Bryce Budney 4 1-2 12, Joey Carini 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 7-12 55

3-point goals: Mid. 3 (Jackson Guerrero 1, Drew Cooney 1, Brennan Mauer 1); OC 6 (Bryce Budney 3, Ja’Quan Turner 1, Michael Busateri 1, Tyson Busch 1).