Brookfield East girls makes state for first time since 2004

 

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) - After an 18-year wait, the Brookfield East girls are heading back to the State Tournament. An important milestone for the Spartans seniors.

"It’s just crazy to think we're going to state after just six wins my freshman year," said Paige Platz, Brookfield East senior.

Paige Platz and the other four seniors on the team followed a six-win freshman year, in 2018-19, with 12 wins the next year and then 15 the following year. Now with 25 wins this season, just two more gets them their first ever state title.

"We all talked about how going to state our senior year has been a goal of ours and a dream of ours. Just to be together," said Platz.

"It's just an amazing feeling. We've been working for this all season and to finally get there is a huge accomplishment for us," said Brookfield East's leading scorer junior Annika Pluemer.

"The fact that they've shown some serious resiliency and pushed each other to the point that we're at now is pretty remarkable," said Tyler Saxton, Brookfield East head coach.

It will be a new experience for every member of the team. Looking to get accustomed to the playing environment of the Resch Center in Green Bay, the Spartans practiced at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Wherever the Spartans play, one aspect of their game always travels.

"Our defense. We work so hard on defense. We know where we need to be. We trust each other. We just rely on each other. Our defense creates everything for us," said Pluemer.

The Spartans will need that against an Appleton East team that entered that state tournament eighth in the state in total scoring.

"Comes down to the girls believing in what we've done all year which is study the scouting report, execute it and as a long as we put it all out on the floor. See where we end up," said Saxton.

Brookfield East previously made the state tournament in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 2004. Their best finish was as a runner-up.

The Spartans take on Appleton East in the final game on the state semifinals.

You can watch every game of the high school state semifinals on WMLW.

Full schedule of area teams:

Division 1

Semifinals - Friday, March 11

Game-1:  #1 Kettle Moraine (25-3) vs. #4 De Pere (24-4) - 6:35 p.m.

Game-2:  #2 Brookfield East (25-3) vs. #3 Appleton East (24-4) - Approx. 15 minutes following Game-1

Division 2

Semifinals - Friday, March 11

Game-1:  #1 Notre Dame (27-1) vs. #4 Menomonie (25-3) - 1:35 p.m.

Game-2:  #2 Reedsburg (28-0) #3 Pewaukee (25-3) - Approx. 15 minutes following Game-1

Championship games are set for Saturday, March 12.