Sports Wrapups: Dec. 27

Franklin boys basketball

The Sabers bounced back from a disappointing 61-47 loss to Washington on Dec. 20, and headed into the holiday break on a positive note with a 62-54 win over area rival Greendale on Dec. 22.

"It was just an overall great team effort," Sabers coach Tim Hogan said. "We really set the tone early, trapping and creating a few turnovers. We got them a little uncomfortable and out of their game plan and we were able to carry that through for the rest of the game."

The split left Franklin at 4-3 overall (3-0 in Southeast play), as they headed into the New Berlin Classic this week. They took on Manitowoc on Tuesday and then New Berlin Eisenhower on Wednesday.

The Sabers are at Muskego on Jan. 3.

Franklin broke out to a 23-8 lead on Greendale and never looked back, despite a 19-11 second quarter run by the Panthers that cut the deficit to 34-27. The Sabers were then able to hold the Panthers at arm's length throughout the second half.

The Sabers had four players in double figures led by Nick Kriesel, of whom, Hogan said he had his best game of the year with 15 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists. Meanwhile, Brett Ksobiech had 14 points, while posts Chad Kanugh (12 points, four rebounds and three assists) and Dan Kingstad (10 points, three rebounds and two blocked shots) also had good games.

Overall, Franklin had 17 team assists in the game.

Against Washington, the Sabers had a hard time dealing with star guard Derrick Williams, who had 24 points. The Purgolders outscored Franklin in every quarter, taking a 28-23 lead into the half and a 39-31 advantage into the fourth period.

Brett Ksobiech had 20 points to lead Franklin while Colin Ksobiech had 11.

"We're playing a challenging nonconference schedule," Hogan said, "because we want to put ourselves in the best position possible (at the end of the season)."

Oak Creek girls basketball

The Knights went into the holiday break on a positive note with a strong 54-44 nonconference win over area power Brookfield Central on Dec. 21.

"(I'm happy with) where we're at," coach Steve Hluchnik said. "We played two awful games against Franklin and West Allis Central and we could easily be 2-4 but we could almost be 6-0, too. ... (We) played our crispest game offensively. Everyone contributed, 11 deep from the first quarter on and we kept the kids fresh. As long as they can buy into that we're going to be OK."

The victory improved the Knights to 5-2 overall (1-2 in Southeast play). They took on the host school on Tuesday and Homestead on Wednesday in the Sheboygan South Redwing Classic and are back in league play on Jan. 3 at Kenosha Bradford.

Oak Creek took a 30-20 halftime lead on the defending Greater Metro Conference champion Lancers and then hung on from there.

Forward Tamya Sims had 17 points to lead the Knights while Morgan Kokta had nine and Steph Kostowicz eight.

Hluchnik was pleased with the play of Kokta, the team's point guard.

"She's ... probably our most steady player and she holds us together," he said. "She hasn't had a lot of opportunities to score and we're looking at ways to get her involved in the offense more. She really came through tonight."

Oak Creek wrestling

Josh Regazzi was third at 182 pounds to lead the Knights to a 17th-place showing in the 19-school Badger State Invitational on Dec. 23.

Regazzi, who is now 14-2 on the season, got a first-round bye, and then pinned a River Valley foe (3:49) before losing to Merrill's Noah Lassa (13-2) on a 13-4 major decision. Regazzi then bounced back to pin Sparta's Kyle Burkhalter (15-4) in 2:52 to claim third.

Joey Lara was sixth at 126 going 3-2 on the day. Lara is now 11-6 on the season. No other Knight wrestler won more than one match in the event.

Oak Creek finished with 33.5 points as Merrill won with 184.5.

The Knights are off until Jan. 5 when they host Kenosha Bradford in a Southeast Conference dual.

Whitnall girls basketball

The Falcons dropped a low-scoring 33-29 decision to New Berlin West on Dec. 20.

Rachael Shulta scored 13 points and Ashley Markowiak 11 for Whitnall, which broke into double figures in only one quarter, the second, with 10 points.

Whitnall fell to 3-2 in the Woodland Conference Black Division and 6-3 overall with the loss, which broke a four-game winning streak.

The Falcons are off until Jan. 3, when they welcome Greendale (2-3, 2-4).

Oak Creek boys swimming

The Knights swam hard, but a lack of up-top firepower left them a little short in a 112-73 Southeast Conference dual meet loss to Racine Case on Dec. 13.

Oak Creek, which is off until a Jan. 3 dual meet at home against Kenosha Bradford, earned no first place finishes against Case, but did get seconds from Zach Dlugi in the 200 free (2:07.43), Zack Kaestner in the 50 free (24.7), Corey Pientka in diving (137.5 points), Kyle Zawacki in the 500 free (6:00.07), and Aaron Sova in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.48).

Greendale boys basketball

A 20-8 second quarter proved too much for the Panthers to overcome in a 68-56 loss to Pewaukee on Dec. 20.

Greendale fell behind 42-27 at halftime and a second-half rally fell short as the Panthers slipped to 2-3 in the Woodland Conference Black Division.

Alex Noggle scored 14 points, Jordan Perez 12 points and Jacob Sisler and Matt Habeck six points apiece.

Greendale also lost to Franklin, 62-54, in a nonconference contest on Dec. 22 to fall to 3-6 overall. Perez tallied 15 points, Ryan Daquisto 13 and Noggle 11 points.

Greendale welcomes Whitnall (4-1, 8-1) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

Greendale girls basketball

Olivia Surita scored 15 points and Taylor DeLong seven, but the Panthers fell to Pewaukee, 74-40, on Dec. 20.

Greendale fell to 3-3 in the Woodland Conference Black Division and 3-4 overall. The Panthers played in the Niki Doedens Tournament at Cedarburg this week. The third-place and championship games are set for 5:45 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

They then visit Whitnall (3-2, 6-3) at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

Franklin wrestling

The Sabers got a seventh from Kyle Smith at 170 pounds to lead them to a 27th place showing in the 32-school Al Dvorak Memorial Invitational in Machesney Park, Ill., last week.

"When I took over, we were looking for a new tourney and this came up," Franklin coach Chad Phillippi said. "And it was a good fit for us. There was a lot of hard, physical wrestling and nationally ranked kids were going in the finals. It was very exciting to be a part of."

Smith went 5-2 over the two days of the tournament for his spot as he has comfortably made the drop from 182 to 170.

"He had a pretty good tourney," Phillippi said. "He needed a little more on his feet but he did well everywhere else. Everybody got to see a lot of good competition."

Phillippi was also pleased with the effort of Roman Stiff at 138 pounds, as he was a match away from placing. Montini, Ill., won the event.

The level of competition continues to rise for Franklin, as the Sabers take part in the Northern Exposure Dual Meet Tournament in Merrill this Wednesday and Thursday.

Greendale co-op hockey

Despite a hat trick by Joe Jensen, the local squad dropped a 7-6 game to the Kenosha co-op at Wilson Park on Dec. 19.

Jensen tallied off assists from Jake Hardin twice and Brian Kennedy. Kyle Hoffman tallied twice with assists from Hardin and Brennen Fosnow and Hardin scored off a feed from Kahler Cox. Goaltender Jared Hoffman made 28 saves.

The team then fell, 8-1, to Marquette in the first round of the Admirals Cup Tournament on Friday.

- Compiled by John Rech and Steven L. Tietz