Appleton East clinches share of FVA title with win over Kimberly

APPLETON - The last time the Appleton East girls basketball team won a Fox Valley Association title was the 1998-99 season, when the seniors on this year’s team were five years old.

It’s been a while for the Patriots and Tuesday night one of their top rivals visited, hoping to make things a little more difficult for East to end its drought.

Second-place Kimberly entered the game one game behind East, so a win would force a tie atop the FVA. East wasn’t too keen on that thought, however, so the Patriots turned to their defense and best player and grabbed at least a share of the FVA title by completing a season sweep of the Papermakers with a 51-38 win.

The share of the FVA was made official when Oshkosh West also dropped two games behind with two to play after a loss to Neenah.

“Getting a share of a conference title is wonderful,” East senior Marissa Michalkiewicz said. “Our program has struggled for a couple years. To get all of it would be life making. It’s amazing.”

East co-coach Jackie Arnold knew her team was going to be ready Tuesday.

“The girls came out with a different mentality tonight,” she said. “I just had a feeling they weren’t going to lose. They worked hard the last couple days in practice and were ready for Kimberly.”

The first time East, ranked No. 6 in the FOX 11 Top 11 girls basketball poll, and Kimberly met, East outslugged the Papermakers for a 24-21 victory. After one quarter, it appeared the teams were headed down the same street as East led 7-5.

But as the game wore on, East got warmer. After making 3-of-11 first-quarter shots, East figured out Kimberly’s defense, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the state among Division 1 schools allowing 31.8 points per game.

In the final three quarters, East cut through Kimberly’s defense with ease, making 15-of-20 shots from the floor for 75 percent as the 51 points tied for the most points Kimberly has allowed in a game this season.

East opened a 20-13 lead, but the game was tight near the end of the third quarter with East leading 33-27 with 2.4 seconds left. That’s when Michalkiewicz made a huge play.

The left-handed softball player threw a near full-court pass from out of bounds to Mallory Lamers, who scored on a layup just before the buzzer to stretch the lead to eight points. Then to open the fourth, East outscored Kimberly 6-2 to lead 41-29 and was never threatened.

Michalkiewicz’s bomb keyed East’s finish.

“That was just a smart play,” Arnold said. “Marissa always sees people open down the floor. A great pass. Going into the fourth quarter, that was a momentum boost. After that our girls … nothing was going to stop them.”

Michalkiewicz not only made plays as a passer, but as the leading scorer on the Patriots she also did some damage on offense. The 6-footer scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and when she got post position deep she was nearly impossible to stop.

“I really rely on my team,” Michalkiewicz said. “At times it was kind of a struggle, but they pulled me through.”

“She came out a little slow tonight; you could tell she was a little nervous,” Arnold said. “I just told her to relax and have fun.”

While Kimberly’s defense couldn’t keep up with East, the Patriots’ No. 3-ranked defense among all Division 1 teams in the state, stood tall for the most part. Kimberly made 12-of-34 shots as it never got a rhythm.

“We’re a great defensive team,” Arnold said. “The last couple days in practice I told them defense was going to win the game. They came out and played great defense. Kimberly didn’t know what to do to get baskets.”

A win Friday against Appleton North would clinch the FVA title outright for East and Tuesday’s win should give the Patriots momentum against another rival.

“This one was great,” Arnold said. “It gives us more confidence. Appleton North is a great team. Hopefully, this pushes us.”

• Notes: Malory Christenson also scored 12 points for East, while Lamers added 10. … Kyra Vanden Heuvel led Kimberly with 11 points. … Kimberly’s winning streak ended at seven. … Kimberly next plays Oshkosh North. … East’s 17 wins eclipse last year’s win total of 16. … Kimberly’s last lead was 5-2 in the first quarter.
• Game ball: Michalkiewicz, who played big in the second half.
• Numbers game: 1 Win in its last two games will clinch the FVA title outright for East.

APPLETON EAST 51, KIMBERLY 38
Kimberly……….5   8 14 11- 38
Appleton East…7 13 15 16- 51

Kimberly (16-4, 12-4)
Kyra Vanden Heuvel 11, Steph Hetto 4, Alison Miron 3, Frankie Wurtz 4, Stephanie Naranjo 9, Sam Kilsdonk 3, Elly Pirman 4. 3-PT: 2 (Vanden Heuvel 1, Kilsdonk 1). FG: 12-34. FT: 12-17. Turnovers: 8. F: 13. Fouled out: Hetto.
Appleton East (17-3, 14-2)
Malory Christenson 12, Aubrey Scott 5, Mallory Lamers 10, Marissa Michalkiewicz 12, Ashley O’Connell 4, Amy Lee 4, Lizzy Martin 4. 3-PT: 4 (Christenson 1, Scott 1, Lamers 2). FG: 18-31. FT: 11-12. Turnovers: 11. F: 16. Fouled out: None.

doug.ritchay@wluk.com