Union Grove High School

One game short

A tearful Payton Calouette gets a hug from Paige Cotton after fouling out in the second half of the sectional final game Saturday. (Photo by Michael Stefanich)

Early Reedsburg surge overwhelms Broncos’ state bid

By Tim Wester

Correspondent

Falling behind 17-1 to any team can often be too much to overcome.

Doing so against the undefeated and top-ranked team would certainly seal a team’s fate.

This was the daunting situation that faced Union Grove, who valiantly battled back from the deficit before falling short against Reedsburg 63-45 in a WIAA Division 2 sectional final at Oregon High School Saturday March 5.

“I’m still trying to figure out why we came out like a deer in the headlights and did things that were uncharacteristic of our team early against Reedsburg,” Union Grove coach Rob Domagalski said. “Obviously you do not want to fall behind 17-1 against the top ranked team in the state.”

The Broncos, however, did not give up after the slow start and eventually cut the deficit to six late in the first half before the Beavers built the lead back to 12 at halftime.

“You look at the rest of the game after the slow start and we were right there with them,” Domagalski said. “But playing a team that good trailing by 16 early is really difficult to overcome.”

Union Grove appeared poised to overcome the deficit in the second half, cutting the Beaver led to seven with just over 8 minutes to play.

The Bronco surge may have rattled Reedsburg coach Mark Simon, who went to the four corners offense for the final eight minutes of the game.

The adjustment forced the Broncos into a must foul situation down the stretch leaving it the hands of the Beavers to sink free throws.

The undefeated Beavers, who have 10 seniors on the team, were up to the challenge and put the game out of reach in the final minutes of the game.

To read the entire story see the March 11 edition of the Waterford Post.

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