Local prep teams had successful 2012

GREEN BAY - The year of 2012 was a pretty good sports year for local high schools with plenty of state titles won and the area didn't wait long to start winning gold balls.

In a two-week span at the boys and girls basketball tournaments, teams from the area captured five state titles, three girls, two boys, Brillion and Sheboygan Lutheran won titles on the boys' side, while De Pere, New London and Kewaunee swept the top three divisions on the girls' side.

Sheboygan Lutheran rallied late with Wisconsin Badger recruit Sam Dekker nailing a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to win the Division 5 state title.

Meanwhile, Brillion won the Division 3 title as coach Pete Kittel added a basketball state title to the football state title he won in 2010.

In the spring, the Coleman baseball team was the lone team to win a state title and many of those players were also part of the Cougars' state championship wrestling team.

Moving into the fall, football took center stage as West De Pere attempted to win its third straight state title. The Phantoms failed when Waupaca stunned the Phantoms in Level 4, ending West De pere’s 39-game winning streak, as the Comets placed second in Division 3.

Also, St. Mary's Springs, behind legendary coach Bob Hyland, repeated as Division 6 state champs.

Overall, it was a successful 12 months of high school sports, and there's nothing like witnessing a local team win it all.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com