OC girls face uphill fight in run for state berth

There is a sense of urgency for the Oak Creek girls basketball team as it prepares for WIAA sectional action against South Milwaukee in Racine.

There are only two seniors, but they are the center of everything for the Knights as point guard Cydney Weisflog and center Ashley Luke (an Illinois-Chicago recruit) look to take that next step and advance to the state tournament.

They lost in sectional finals last season to eventual state champ Pius XI, 48-43, and their road to another shot at state is a difficult one. Not only will they have to beat that feisty South Milwaukee squad (16-7) in an 8 p.m. Thursday sectional semifinal out in Racine Case, but then they would have to come back to Case on Saturday for a 1 p.m. sectional final, most likely against the host Eagles (20-2) who will host Bradley Tech (20-3) in a 6 p.m. sectional semifinal on Thursday.

These are same Eagles, which romped to the Southeast Conference title and hit Oak Creek hard in a pair of league match-ups earlier this winter.

The "Super Tuesday" super-sectional for the right to go to state will be at Wisconsin Lutheran College on March 22 against the winner of the Brookfield East sectional.

And just so the Knights (18-5) don't get over-confident if they happen to beat Case in the sectional final, their "Super Tuesday" opponent will either be Pius XI (22-1) or 2007-2009 state champ Milwaukee Vincent (20-2).

Still, there is confidence out there for Oak Creek, which blistered Milwaukee Hamilton, 64-27, in a regional final on Saturday.

"The kids seem pretty disciplined and focused," said Knight coach Steve Hluchnik. "They know that this is it for them. We were so close last year, so our kids know what it takes to get through." It would be the Knights' fifth trip to state.

OAK CREEK

Coach: Steve Hluchnik

Record: 18-5

Conference record: 12-2 (second in the Southeast)

Key players: 6-2 senior center Ashley Luke (14.3 ppg.) and 5-8 senior point guard Cydney Weisflog (12.7 ppg.).

Key games: Losses to Pius XI 51-37, on Feb. 8 and to Case, 64-39, on Jan. 28.

Winning streak: Seven games (last loss was to Pius).

How they advanced: 64-27 win over Milwaukee Hamilton

Synopsis: This has been a hearty season for the Knights, who ran to eight the number of seasons in the row that they've been able to post winning records. A smart, disciplined and defensive-minded attitude has been their key to success. They have beaten fellow sectional qualifiers and conference rivals Muskego and Franklin twice each this season in the competitive Southeast. As emotional support, senior Tessa Leonardi, who had to leave the team in December to get a life-saving kidney transplant, has been coming to practice and helping out where she can. Weisflog (14 points) and Luke (12) led the way against Hamilton.

RACINE CASE

Coach: Willie Maryland

Record: 20-2

Conference record: 14-0 (Southeast champions)

Key players: 6-1 junior Jameeka Bouie (17.2 ppg.), 5-11 senior Samantha Logic (13.5 ppg.) and 6-0 Asia Mosley (10.1 ppg.).

Key games: Beat Oak Creek, 64-58, on Dec. 10 and 64-39, on Jan. 28.

Winning streak: 13 in a row.

How they advanced: 74-31 win over Racine Park.

Synopsis: The Eagles are a huge, fast and frightening juggernaut. They have scored over 70 points 12 times this season including the last three games in a row. They lost only to a powerful Illinois team and to Vincent by one in the season opener. Both Bouie and Logic are shoo-ins for All-State consideration and Logic might be a state POY candidate. A heavy favorite in this sectional.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE

Coach: Tracy Stolte

Record: 16-7

Conference record: 12-5 (second in the Woodland Black)

Key players: 5-11 sophomore Ellie Pusheck (13.1 ppg.), 5-7 junior Mallory Wesley (10.5 ppg.) and 5-9 sophomore Riley Budde (7.9 ppg.).

Key games: Lost 58-39 to Franklin on Feb. 8; beat sectional qualifier Tosa West, 43-35 on Feb. 25.

Winning streak: Three in a row (six of last seven).

How they advanced: 76-16 win over Milwaukee South.

Synopsis: The Rockets had a bit of a breakthrough this season after two consecutive losing campaigns. In their division, they finished behind only defending state D2 champ New Berlin Eisenhower.

BRADLEY TECH

Coach: Alina Cunningham

Record: 20-3

Conference record: 11-3 (third in the Milwaukee City).

Key players: Senior center Rashawnda Rogers (16.9 ppg.), junior Arnisha Thomas (13.6 ppg.) and senior Shana Lee (12.3 ppg.).

Key game: Lost to Vincent, 69-48, on Feb. 24.

Winning streak: Five in a row (nine of 10).

How they advanced: 54-51 win over Racine Horlick

Synopsis: The Trojans posted their first winning record in five years this season behind a high-scoring unit led by Rogers but have played only three teams from outside of the City of Milwaukee.