This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Take nothing away from Germantown
Congratulations to Germantown High School.
Photos: JS and MyCommunityNOW.com
Their boy’s basketball team won the WIAA Division 1 state championship in Madison Saturday night.
JS photo
Germantown went undefeated with a great team and great players who were clearly on a mission. An outstanding season culminated in a 72-69 victory in the title game against an extremely talented squad from Milwaukee Rufus King.
The championship clash was a classic. You know when announcers say it’s a shame either team has to lose? This was definitely one of those games.
Given my blog title, you probably have figured a “but” is coming in that, Germantown clearly demonstrated consistently all season long they were the cream of the crop in the state and deserved the championship, but…
Some observations are necessary.
King coach Jim Gosz was gracious in defeat:
"That was an extremely tough loss. We didn't shoot the ball well and to beat that team we have to shoot a little better. We did not play well tonight."
Actually, King played very well. Ask Germantown coach Steve Showalter:
"I've got to give King a lot of credit. They're pretty good. They're really good. They're small, they're tough and they shot so well. I thought we played pretty tough and still couldn't put them away."
In reality, this could have been a blowout like most of Germantown's victories this year. All but two had margins in double digits.
Jim Gosz won't say it, though he probably thought of it, especially after seeing the final stats. But I'll say it.
Germantown made 29 of 37 free throws compared with 5 of 10 for King. The stat jumps out at you like one of Spiderman's webs.
The huge disparity is astounding. Germantown made 24 more free throws than King, and still barely won.
Milwaukee King coach Jim Gosz has some words for a referee. Journal Sentinel photo: Tom Lynn
King was whistled for 22 fouls, Germantown, 11. I find such a sizeable free throw difference in a championship game of this caliber to be unbelievable, especially when the bigger, more physical Germantown team commits only half of the fouls King did.
Again, this is not to diminish Germantown’s amazing accomplishments, and Gosz is too classy to comment about the free throws. My point is this: Germantown is very good, so good they don’t need the extra help.
UPDATE: It's unfortunate that some Germantown fans got out of line.
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