Loyal rallies to win D5 championship

ASHWAUBENON - The Loyal High School girls won their first WIAA state basketball championship and they did it in record-breaking fashion.

With a record-breaking 46-point second half, the Greyhounds outlasted the Milwaukee Academy of Science 74-61 in the Division 5 championship Saturday at the Resch Center.

The 46 points in a half broke Assumption’s record of 35 last year and the 135 combined points by the two schools was five better than the 130 points Heritage Christian and Owen-Withee scored in 2012.

“To the program this means everything,” said Loyal senior Karsyn Rueth, as she fought back tears. “We’ve never done this before, so bringing home a gold ball feels just amazing right now.”

And winning the title wasn’t easy for the Greyhounds.

Down by 13 points with 10 minutes, 18 seconds left to play, Loyal got back into the game, making the most of each possession.

Freshman point guard Remi Geiger started an 11-0 run to pull Loyal within 52-50 with 7:28 to play. The lead changed four times, including one tie, until Morgan Reinwand gave Loyal the lead for good at 60-59 with 3:38 to go.

“It was hard to focus when we were down, but after the time out, we got back on the floor and we knew there was time on the clock and that we could do it,” Loyal senior Morgan Reinwand said. “Being the first team in school history, you could see that our fans were here supporting us, the town was empty and it means the world to us to have everyone here.”

During the game there were eight lead changes and three ties and once Loyal got the lead, it worked to get a cushion.

By the time the the clock hit one minute, Loyal led by eight points. Down the stretch, Reinwand went 4-for-5 from the line to increase the Greyhounds’ lead.

“I thought we continued to battle and take it to the basket to get back in the game,” Loyal coach Mike Rueth said. “I’m really happy with the results, obviously. I’m proud of the kids and our community.”

Loyal got the gold ball and some records to boot, but MAS sophomore Shermera Williams broke seven Division 5 records and tied one.

She set new marks for most points in a game (40), most points in a tournament (73), most field goals in a game (16), most field goal attempts in a game (28) and in a tournament (54), most 3-pointers attempted in a game (13). She tied for most 3-pointers made in a game with five.

MAS co-coach David Ziegelbauer was at a loss when asked to comment on his starting sophomore.

“You all saw it. There isn’t a lot for me to say,” Ziegelbauer said. “She’s been doing that all year long, carrying us and making us better.

“And I have to congratulate Loyal, they’re a very worthy team and at the end of the day, we couldn’t keep up with them.”

The Greyhounds where led by their two seniors, Rueth and Reinwand, who scored 25 and 23 points, respectively.

Loyal got 26 points from four other players with Geiger finishing with 10 points. The Novas four other scorers accounted for 21 points.

LOYAL: Hailey Rueth 8, Karsyn Rueth 25, Remi Geiger 10, Morgan Reinwand 23, Bryanna Rayhorn 4, Hannah Peroshek 1, Amanda Krasselt 3.

MILWAUKEE ACADEMY of SCIENCE: Latondrana 3, Tatianya Evans 10, Tamarra Pugh-Torres 3, Shemera Williams 40, Taviana Cowart 5.

3-pointers: Loyal 5 (K.Rueth, Reinwand Krasselt); MAS 6 (Williams 5, Taviana Cowart).

Records: Loyal 25-4; Milwaukee Academy of Science 23-5.

Mark Massoglia: 715-424-7309 or mark.massoglia@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @markmazzy.