Posted: Feb. 22, 2010 |(0) Comments

Germantown — Boys basketball coach Steve Showalter spent a few minutes thanking Homestead coach Ray Curry on the phone on 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 7:30 p.m. home game Thursday.

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 lineup, 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 North Shore Conference 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 on 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."

As is that of his old friend Curry, whose team physically dominated the Warhawks, 64-57, on Jan. 22 in the old Homestead gym.

"I like Showey (Showalter) a lot," laughed Curry, "and I wish him continued success in the future. Just not on Thursday night.

"Seriously, this is great. Germantown is playing for a conference title and our guys have a lot of pride. We played spoiler last Friday night (against Port) and our hope is to do it again on Thursday. We're in their way and they're in ours."

Team needs poise to win

And Showalter is serious about the amount of planning to be done if his squad is to avenge the loss to the Highlanders (7-6, 11-9) and gain a share of what would be an astounding championship.

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

The first order of business for Germantown will be solving the two-headed Homestead monster of guard Coy Smith (27 points against Port) and physical post John Laihinen (20 in the same game).

However, Showalter won't go too far in bad-mouthing the Highlanders. He is indeed grateful for this most opportune chance.

"This 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.

"… It's an exciting time again."

Port will close with a home game against Grafton.

Pirates rally before losing

"We didn't know what to expect coming into this season," said point guard Josh Mongan, "but we've won some close games and really come together. There's no reason to stop now."

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 Mongan drained four threes and finished with 14. Malcolm Bowers chipped in 11 and Alex Lloyd came up with 10.

A total of 11 Warhawks scored in the contest as away in Mequon that same night, steps were being taken to keep their title dreams alive.

"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."

Warhawks fight for first

Will the slipper fit against Homestead?

WIAA SECTIONAL INFORMATION: Germantown's strong season closing run (11 wins in their last 13 games) earned them the third seed in the WIAA Division I sectional five bracket. The Warhawks will host 14th-seeded Milwaukee Madison on March 2 in a regional semifinal and, if advancing, will host the victor of sixth-seeded Hamilton and 11th-seeded Oconomowoc in a regional final on March 6. Germantown beat Hamilton, 63-57, back on Nov. 28 in the season opener. The regional champion advances to sectional play at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee on March 12. Arrowhead is the one seed and Greater Metro Conference champ Menomonee Falls is the second seed.