By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
When East Troy girls basketball coach Jeff Brown looks at Kettle Moraine Lutheran, he sees a lot of his team in the Chargers.
And that certainly makes for an interesting matchup later this week when the teams tangle in a Division 3 sectional semifinal.
East Troy (23-1 overall) advanced to the sectional with a pair of regional wins last weekend. The Trojans and Kettle Moraine Lutheran (21-3) will battle Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Marquette High School.
The Trojans enter the week ranked second in Division 3, while the Chargers are ranked 10th.
In the other sectional contest, seventh-ranked Oostburg (20-4) faces Berlin (17-7). The sectional winners will play Saturday at Hartland Arrowhead in a noon contest with a berth in next weekend’s state tournament at stake.
Oostburg defeated East Troy at last year’s state tournament.
Brown said the film he’s seen on Kettle Moraine Lutheran has been impressive.
“They are really good,” he said. “They have won 21 games in a row. They are the mirror image of us, really fast, have good depth and well-balanced.
“They like to get the ball up the floor and take the first open shot. Defensively, they will press at times, but they like to use man and get after you.”
The Chargers advanced with a 65-44 win over Racine St. Catherine’s in the regional final Saturday night.
Entering the sectional, Kettle Moraine is led by senior Sarah Jo Busse (5-foot-6), who averages 11.9 points per game. Next is 5-10 junior Andrea Meinert at 11.1 points per game, followed by 5-7 sophomore Mikayla Voigt at 8.6.
The Trojans boast four players in double digits, led by senior Breanna Gaspervich at 16.6 points per game. Senior Rachel Atchison, who has made 73 3-pointers, is next at 16.5 per game, followed by senior Alicia Oleson at 10.5 and senior Andrea Olsen at 10 per game.
Brown said he knows his team is in for a challenge Thursday night.
“We will have to play a very good game to beat them,” he said. “You can’t turn the ball over against them because that will spark their offense.”
The Trojans’ big-game experience, which included its first-ever state trip last year, will help this weekend, Brown said.
But it’s not like the Chargers haven’t been in pressure situations themselves, he added.
“It will help some,” Brown said. “They understand what sectionals are all about. (But) Kettle Moraine Lutheran lost in the sectional last year. So they know what to expect, too.”
One thing is certain – it’s always a good thing to still be alive and kicking, Brown said.
“We are really excited to still be playing,” he said. “This time of the year is really fun.”
