Posted: Feb. 19, 2010 |(0) Comments

Germantown boys basketball coach Steve Showalter spent a few minutes thanking Homestead coach Ray Curry on the phone Friday night after Showalter discovered that the Highlanders had upset Port Washington, 82-77, giving the Warhawks a chance to clinch at least a share of their third league title in four years.

Then immediately after hanging up, the pair went about plotting how they could beat each other, because for the Warhawks to earn that title opportunity so graciously laid at their feet, they will have to beat that same Homestead team in a home game next Thursday night (Feb. 25).

That the endlessly youthful and callow Warhawks, they of the 0-2 league start and the three sophomores, one junior and one senior in the starting line-up, are in this position, is rapidly becoming the stuff of legend and has the 10-year veteran Showalter shaking his head as Port (9-4 in NSC play, 16-4 overall) and Germantown (9-4, 15-6) enter the final game of the regular season in a dead heat.

"Who'd have guessed that we'd be in this position with one game to go," said Showalter after his team took care of business with a 76-31 rout of Grafton Friday night. "We have a chance at the promised land, only we have to beat the team that's playing the best ball in the conference right now."

"My mind is just churning and plotting right now."

That's because Showalter's memory is awash with thoughts of the physical 64-57 beating Homestead (7-6, 11-9) gave the Warhawks on Jan. 22 in the old Highlander gym.

"They played like the seniors they are and we looked like the sophomores we are for long stretches," Showalter said.

And if the Warhawks are to win the rematch, they have to solve the two-headed Homestead monster of guard Coy Smith (27 points against Port) and physical post John Laihinen (20 in the same game).

But before he goes too far bad-mouthing the Highlanders, Showalter is just going to be grateful for the opportunity they presented his team.

"This is is just incredible, given where we started and what we've been through," he said. "Just very special. Lou (assistant coach Jim Lawinger) said that this has the possibility of being the best one (league title) ever."

"For so long this season, we were just thinking about finishing .500 in conference, about getting a halfway decent-seed for the (WIAA) sectional. It's an exciting time again." Port will close with a home game against Grafton.

Homestead beat Port by launching out to a 48-33 halftime lead. It was still a 13-point advantage going into the fourth before the Pirates made a furious rally that fell short. Wisconsin recruit Josh Gasser led Port with 28, including 16 free throws. Homestead got help from Dominic Wilder with 11 and Lamonte Moore with 10.

Germantown earned its chance at the championship by overcoming a slow start against the winless Blackhawks. The Warhawks were down 15-11 at the quarter before they woke up with a 25-5 second period run that put the game away.

They hit 10 3-pointers as senior post Jake Keefe had a career night with a game-high 20 points, while guard Josh Mongan drained four trifectas and finished with 14. Malcolm Bowers chipped in with 11 and Alex Lloyd came up with 10.

A total of 11 Warhawks scored.

"We kept thinking that we couldn't plan that far ahead," Showalter said. "Just one game (at a time), just one game. Well now it's down to just one game for all of us."