Posted: Feb. 8, 2010

Menomonee Falls boys basketball

The first of the major goals is but a step away for the Indians, as successful routs of Sussex Hamilton (73-52) and Brookfield East (65-37) last week improved their record to 11-0 in the Greater Metro Conference (14-3 overall) and put them within a game of clinching a tie for their first league title since 1993.

"We don't think it's done yet," said Falls coach Ben Siebert. "We have separated ourselves from the second and third place teams (a two-game lead over Marquette going into this week) and we push the kids pretty hard to finish things early. We know we control our own destiny.

"If we continue winning, we don't want to have to worry about anyone else."

A win by Falls at home Friday night against West Allis Central (4-7, 9-10) would give the Indians at least a share of the championship, the first since the Brad Christianson-led powerhouse of 1993.

The Indians will likely want to employ the same tactics they did last week to end any drama early. Against East (3-8, 6-12), Falls went up 17-4 at the end of the first quarter and 39-11 at the half as the starters played little of the second half.

J.P. Tokoto, despite a five-for-12 night from the foul line, led the Indians with 15 while Adam Rubatt had 12 and also led the team in rebounding with eight.

Against border rival Hamilton (7-4, 11-7), the Indians were more efficient offensively. The Chargers started the game in third-place in the GMC, but were no match for an inspired Falls team on Junior Indians youth basketball night (more than 100 grade school players were in attendance at the game and the fourth-graders played at halftime).

It was 24-14 at the quarter and 46-29 at the half, as Tokoto had 17, Conor Cassidy 14 and Jalen Ramey 12. Siebert was pleased to see Cassidy attacking the rim "relentlessly" which made room on the perimeter for teammates to hit open jumpers. Ramey, he said, also remains effective coming off the bench.

A total of 10 players scored for Falls.

"We were pretty focused and aggressive that night," Siebert said. "It's always easy to motivate the kids against Sussex."

Menomonee Falls/Germantown/Hamilton boys swim

Nathan Cox broke his brother Dan's four-year-old league record in diving and Sean Kimmitt claimed the 100-yard butterfly, as the Indians were a competitive fourth in the Greater Metro/Classic 8 Conference meet at Waukesha South on Saturday.

The Indians, who also dominated the junior varsity portion of the meet, will now take part in WIAA sectional competition back at South at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the diving to be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The winners of each event, plus all those who are among the next 18 fastest of all sectionals statewide, will advance to the state meet at the UW-Madison Natatorium on Feb. 20.

"We're going to have to go pretty fast (to get some qualifiers)," said coach Jim Weitzer.

The Indians scored 340 points for their spot at the league test as Arrowhead dominated with 548.

Cox turned in a score of 488.35 points to win the diving title by 67 points and beat his brother Danny's 2006 mark by five points (483.2). Teammate Ryan Thomann was sixth in the event with a 307.0 mark.

Kimmitt took the 100 butterfly by a narrow margin of 0.18 with a 52.83 time.

The next best finishes for the Indians were fourths from the 200 medley relay team of Nick Bietz, Kimmitt, Taylor Ladd and Ben Perry (1:41.58); the 200 free relay team of Taylor Hernikl, Tyler Kloehn, Michael Spankowski and Ladd (1:34.87) and Ladd in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.18).

Other top finishes for the local co-op included the following: 200 individual medley: Ladd, sixth (2:08.0); 50 free: Hernikl, sixth (23.05); 100 butterfly: Kloehn, ninth (57.57); 100 free: Hernikl, seventh (50.53); Bietz, ninth (50.7); 500 free: Michael Pellechia, seventh (5:03.72); 100 backstroke: Bietz, sixth (56.34); Kimmitt, eighth (58.44): 100 breaststroke: Ben Midlikowski, eighth (1:06.72); and 400 free relay: Bietz, Hernikl, Perry and Kimmitt, fifth (season best 3:22.71).

The junior varsity team won by 98 points over Arrowhead, as Sam Green, Andrew Cronin, Cole Becker, Nick Siebenaller, Christoph Rohrer, Evan Foht and Evan Duvall led the way.

Menomonee Falls wrestling

Korey Kleinhans dominated the 189-pound class, as the shorthanded Indians took sixth in the Greater Metro Conference meet Friday.

"He scored some big wins," said Indiasn coach Jim McMahon. "He looked very good that night."

Falls will now take part in WIAA regional competition at Sussex Hamilton. The first four finishers in each weight class will advance to the sectional meet at Hartford on Feb. 20.

The Indians scored 124 points to earn their slot in the GMC tourney as West Allis Central won as expected with 242.5 points.

Kleinhans pinned both Central (1:37) and Hamilton (5:38) opponents before overpowering West Allis Hale's Zach Seefeld, 17-3, in the final. McMahon said that Kleinhans could go either 171 or 189 at the regional.

Taking fourths for the Indians were Dan Stark at 103, Marshall Lund at 130, Trevor Ehrett at 140, Mike Marcou at 160, Dominic Thomas at 171 and Tyler Bross at 285.

McMahon said that Thomas wrestled well and that Bross had a bit of an off-day.

"We had to put too many freshmen and sophomores out there," McMahon said.

The only seniors for the Indians were Kleinhans, Marcou and Lund.

Falls/Germantown gymnastics

The Indians turned in a season best score in falling to defending Division 2 state champion Whitefish Bay, 140.875-135.55 on Feb. 3.

Aerial Holt tied for the title on the uneven bars (8.1) for the Indians only win. Falls will be at Bay's 18-team Robert Bradley Invitational at 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

"I was very happy for the gymnasts, that they finally put themselves together as a team and accomplished a part of what I think they are capable of," said Indians coach Tracey Howard. "As great as they did, however, it is only the beginning. I am hoping for so much more. Each practice is full of new skills and requirements. The girls are motivated and very capable.

"(However) the next time all the girls will be competing together will be the (WIAA) sectional meet," Howard said. "I have several seniors with conflicts due to prior commitments and scholarship duties."

Menomonee Falls girls basketball

Life remains a challenge for the Indians as they had Brookfield East on the ropes Friday, as they took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter only to see the Spartans outscore them 25-13, in the final quarter and pull out a 48-44 victory.

Falls, which also lost 45-31 to border rival Hamilton on Feb. 2, has now dropped eight out of its last nine games. The Indians are 2-8 in Greater Metro play and 4-13 overall.

They will be at West Allis Central (9-2, 12-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Indians were up 31-23 going into the fourth against East but couldn't contain East shooting guard Laren Nashleanas, who finished with 23 points. Falls, which was led by Rachel Defnet with 13 and Alex Poole with 11, again hurt itself at the foul line, hitting just 11-of-23 attempts.

Falls played well against Hamilton in every quarter but the second when the Indians were outscored 19-9 to put them down 26-13 at the break.

Defnet had eight to lead Falls.

 

- Steven L. Tietz