The atmosphere was electric. Some 6,000 fans packed the Kolf Sports Center on the UW-Oshkosh campus to watch top ranked Appleton East face second ranked Germantown in a boys WIAA Super Tuesday matchup.
It was East that prevailed, 54-52 in overtime. But the outcome didn’t come without controversy.
East had the ball with 3.8 seconds left and inbounded to point guard Johnny Coenen in the corner. Coenen dribbled to the right elbow and shot an airball. Patriots forward Caleb Zeegers rebounded the miss and scored on a put-back with 0.4 seconds left.
It appeared to most that the clock started slow, which allowed East to get both shots off. Some accounts say the play last longer than 4-seconds. By my unofficial count, I counted off 4-seconds, but I was just counting in my head. It was close, but if I had to go one way or another, I’d say there should have been a second overtime.
The sad reality is this. Both teams are among the best in the state and are worthy of their high rankings. And anyone that witnessed it, would probably agree that it should have been played at the very least, in a quarterfinal matchup at the State Tournament in Madison. I asked East head coach John Mielke about that prospect after the game.
AUDIO: John Mielke says this game’s magnitude says it belonged in Madison 1:19
Junior big man Sam Mader had 23 points to lead the Patriots. He hit five 3-pointers, four in the first half and one big one in overtime. Caleb Zeegers, who hit the game winning basket, finished with 17 points.
Germantown’s season ended with a 24-2 record. But they’re a team loaded with underclassmen. That will bode well for next season, when they’ll likely be one of the favorites to win it all next season.
East improved to 26-0 and will take on DePere in the division 1 semifinals in Madison on Friday night.
Other Super Tuesday finals:
DePere 63, Superior 39
Madison Memorial 60, Milwaukee Riverside 48
Milwaukee Hamilton 54, Beloit Memorial 47