Sports Wrapups: Feb. 2

Whitnall boys basketball

The Falcons were tested on Friday night by a rapidly-improving Greendale team, but still managed to prevail, 66-61, in overtime.

"Greendale has improved tremendously since the first time (a 60-40 Whitnall victory)," coach Kent Kroupa said. "Their post kids are better and they play better as a team. We had to make good decisions the whole way."

In the overtime session, the Falcons outscored Greendale, 13-8, behind seven points from Luke Mentkowski, including a key 3-pointer.

Stephen Pelkofer led Whitnall with 18 points, including four in the overtime, while Mentkowski added 17 points and Ian Ray 13. Both Mentkowski and Ray netted a trio of 3-pointers.

Sam Mentkowski added 10 points and Bryan Nagy eight for the Falcons, who improved to 9-2 in the Woodland Conference Black Division entering this week, remaining one-half game behind New Berlin Eisenhower (10-2).

But a win over St. Thomas More on Tuesday would have catapulted the Falcons right back into first place.

Whitnall (13-2 overall) welcomes Brown Deer (8-4, 11-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, then hosts South Milwaukee (8-3, 11-4) next Tuesday.

Central boys basketball

The Bulldogs continued their recent surge, downing Sussex Hamilton, 64-55, on Friday and Wauwatosa East, 60-56, on Jan. 24 to move to 7-2 in the Greater Metro Conference, one game behind leader Brookfield Central.

Central (11-4 overall entering this week) has won seven of eight games, counting a forfeit victory over Menomonee Falls.

Najeal McMillian tallied 13 points to lead a balanced attack against Hamilton. Tonnie Collier put in 12 points, Darvell Brown 11 and Ron Turkvan eight.

The Jan. 24 victory snapped a losing streak of at least 19 games to Tosa East.

"Defensively, we had a good stretch in the first half (holding East to 19 points)," coach David Mlachnik said.

Collier tallied 25 points to lead the way, while McMillian chipped in with 11, Brandon Key nine and Jarvis Garrett eight.

The Bulldogs will visit Brookfield Central (8-1, 13-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday with first place in the GMC probably up for grabs.

Greendale/Greenfield

boys swimming, diving

The Panther-Hawks tuned up for the Woodland Conference Meet with a 101-85 dual victory over New Berlin on Jan. 25 and third place with 321 points at the Bob White Invitational on Saturday.

The divers stole the show at the White as Will Kivlin placed third with 340.4 points, Liam Duffy sixth with 301.25 and Jake Howard 13th at 229.3.

"All year long we have been able to get some great dives at practice and then be very inconsistent at the meets," diving coach Cheryl Weber said. "On Saturday, we did a much better job of not only being more consistent, but also much better at cleaning up the little things that have been holding us back all year."

Andrew Staszak won the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 5.65 seconds and second-place finishes were turned in by Ross Rybakowicz in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.76) and the 200 medley team of Rick Perez, Rybakowicz, Staszak and Adam Fleischhacker (1:44.03).

Earning third were Staszak in the 200 freestyle (1:55.24), Rybakowicz in the 200 individual medley (2:07.11) and the 200 freestyle unit of Rybakowicz, Shaun and Adam Fleischhacker and Shaun Lucchesi (1:34.88).

Winners in the New Berlin dual were Perez in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Rybakowicz in the 100 breaststroke, Adam Fleischhacker in the 50 freestyle, Staszak in the 500 freestyle and Kivlin in the diving.

The Woodland meet is at Greenfield on Saturday, with diving at 9:30 a.m. and swimming at 1 p.m.

West Allis gymnastics

The local team defeated Port Washington, 128.525-113.175, on Jan. 25.

Sara Quesnell won the all-around with 33.775 points, while Emily Fuchs placed second at 33.375. West Allis swept the top two places in every event.

"All our scores were low because of the equipment used at Port," coach John Glass said. "To avoid injury, Sara and Emily had to water down their bar routines because the bars were of an old design and did not open the way every other school's bars do, nor were they able to be raised to the height that is at other gyms."

FMOW combo gymnastics

Inching closer to its ultimate goal of defending its WIAA Division 1 state championship, the local Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall co-op turned in another season best and cut a little more off the deficit it's had all season against the Burlington co-op, when it finished second at the Madison Memorial Invite on Saturday.

"We had our highest score by about half-a-point," said coach Katie Moore, "and we got a bit closer (to Burlington). Anytime we can take them on right now is a good thing. We really want to get a good idea of where we're at and where we need to be."

The locals, who have a relatively quiet week, with dual meets at Mukwonago on Thursday and then at Westosha Central on Monday, turned in a score of 144.75 as Burlington won with 145.925. It was the third time FMOW has lost to Burlington this season.

FMOW hung tough with Burlington on almost every event except balance beam, on which it was outscored by 0.8 of a point.

Top places for the locals included seconds by Lauren Zurowski (Whitnall) on vault (9.45) and in floor exercise (9.45). She was also third in the all-around (36.5).

Sammie Olson (Muskego) was fourth on bars with a 9.2 score while Jessica Kossoris (Franklin) on vault (9.05 with a new vault) and Shannon Hein (Muskego) in floor exercise (9.375), both took fifths.

Katlynn Benitez (Muskego) had a good meet, earning a fifth on bars and a sixth on beam.

Whitnall girls basketball

The fortunes of the Falcons seem to be turning the wrong way.

They routed Greendale, 52-33, on Jan. 3, but in the rematch on Friday night, they fell to the Panthers, 54-50. That was their fourth loss in five contests as they fell to 5-6 in the Woodland Conference and 8-7 overall.

Ashley Markowiak tallied 16 points, hitting 10-of-13 from the line, while Rachael Shulta, Elena Busalacchi and Lizzy Menden each tallied eight points.

That loss followed a 73-37 setback at the hands of unbeaten New Berlin Eisenhower on Jan. 24. Markowiak scored 13 points in that game.

Whitnall visits Brown Deer (3-9, 5-10) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Whitnall boys swimming

The Falcons placed 10th in the Small School State Meet on Saturday at Plymouth.

The 200 freestyle team of Ben Hinson, Nate Hinson, David Monteilh and Nick Ratkowski took fourth in 1 minute, 35.24 seconds and Jake Hodel captured seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.54).

Diver Nick Bell took ninth with a season-high 274.5 points. Ben Hinson, Hodel, Jack Larson and Ratkowski came in ninth in the 200 medley relay (1:49.23), while Ratkowski was 10th in the 100 freestyle (52.03 seconds).

Whitnall also beat Wauwatosa, 95-75, in a dual meet on Jan. 25. Winners were Ratkowski in the 50 freestyle (24.78) and the 100 freestyle (54.13), Hodel in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.15), the 200 medley unit of Alex Knighton, Hodel, Larson and Nate Hinson (1:58.81), the 200 freestyle group of Ratkowski, both Hinsons and Monteilh (1:41.28) and the 400 freestyle squad of Larson, Monteilh, Ben Hinson and Ratkowski (3:44.19).

West Allis boys swimming

The Wave topped Pius XI on Jan. 26 behind nine victories.

Winners were Grant Brown in the 200 and 500 freestyles, Nathan Pavek in the 50 and 100 freestyles, Dale Medved in the 100 backstroke, Dave Heer in the 100 breaststroke, the 200 medley team of Medved, Heer, Pavek and Mike Montalvo; the 200 freestyle squad of Pavek, Alex Gorecki, Montalvo and Austin Jasniewski and the 400 freestyle unit of Brown, Medved, Mike Manlick and Jasniewski.

In the Racine Invitational on Saturday, diver Sam Lustig was fourth (303.15 points), Kyle Tubbs 11th (226.5) and Kevin Deering 12th (220.3).

The 200 medley group of Medved, Heer, Pavek and Montalvo took 14th (2:11.33) for the Wave, which tallied 40 points for 10th place.

Hale boys basketball

Steve Kopet, Travis Balcerzak and Derrick Waller all scored 13 points, but the Huskies still fell to Marquette, 73-50, in a Greater Metro Conference game Friday night.

The teams were tied at 29 at the half, but Hale was outscored in the second half, 44-21. The fourth quarter was the big difference as the Hilltoppers outscored the Huskies, 25-9.

The Huskies also lost to Greater Metro Conference leader Brookfield Central, 90-49, on Jan. 24 despite 14 points from Balcerzak, 11 by Nick Sotiros and eight by Kopet.

Hale dropped to 0-9 in the GMC and 3-12 overall. The Huskies welcome Brookfield East (4-5, 7-9) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, then host Cudahy (1-10 Woodland Conference, 3-11 overall) next Tuesday. Hale beat Cudahy last season to end its long losing streak.

Whitnall wrestling

The Falcons routed Greenfield, 73-6, in a Woodland Conference dual on Jan. 25.

Earning pins were Mason Howard at 152 pounds, John McGee (160), Ty Fischer (170), Jeremy Brunner (195) and Alex Sterling (220).

Whitnall, 4-2 in Woodland duals, now prepares for the conference meet on Saturday at Cudahy High School.

Greenfield wrestling

The Hustlin' Hawks finished eighth with an 0-5 mark at the Sheboygan South Duals on Saturday.

Steven Patrick, at 132 pounds, posted three victories, while Mark Lyman (160), Brandon Tolbert (220) and Dominic Kroll (145) each had two.

In a 73-6 loss to Whitnall on Jan. 25, Turner Panich (145) won by a pin.

Greenfield girls basketball

Katarina Djurica scored 10 points and Erika Deubig eight in a 67-38 loss to Pewaukee on Friday.

The Hustlin' Hawks fell to 1-11 in the Woodland Conference and 3-12 overall. They visit St. Francis (1-11, 3-13) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Hale girls basketball

The Huskies lost to Greater Metro Conference leader Divine Savior Holy Angels, 70-25, on Friday night.

Sarah Mueller tallied seven points and Jennifer Stawicki six for Hale, which slipped to 1-7 in the GMC and 2-12 overall.

The Huskies also fell to Brookfield Central, 67-31, on Jan. 24. Jennifer Jender scored eight points to lead Hale.

Next is a game at Brookfield East (0-8, 3-13) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Hale beat the Spartans, 53-49, in an earlier contest.

- Compiled by John Rech