Posted: March 17, 2009 |(0) Comments

Former Menomonee Falls boys basketball coach Terry Thomas knows where current Indians mentor Ben Siebert is right now emotionally and mentally.

Thomas' teams fell in two WIAA sectional finals, one in heartbreaking fashion and both with all-time Indian great Brad Christianson in the middle.

His old coaching friend Dennis Kloth of Germantown was never fortunate enough to be in that position, having presided over the Warhawks in days when it wasn't cool to play hoops in a football-crazy burg.

But despite their respective positions and Germantown's 57-52 outcome March 14, both saw great value in the state-qualifying game that filled the Al McGuire Center.

"Terry and I were talking briefly Thursday night that stuff like this is just good for the community," Kloth said. "They've never really had anything bad to say about us or we about them. It's just a good, natural rivalry."

"It was fun to see the enthusiasm of the crowd," Thomas said. "It does so much to bring the community together. I was happy that both did well."

And interest spread far and wide. Former Falls star and Hall of Famer from the 1950s John Budde, stayed informed online.

"Wow, Germantown, who would have thunk it," he said via e-mail. "This is great."

That thought was echoed by former Germantown principal Janet Barnes who was e-mailing Warhawks coach Steve Showalter from Arkansas on a regular basis looking for information on the team.

And all would have been pleased with the sportsmanship and courage on display during and after the physically and emotionally draining contest. Germantown forward Mike Laubenheimer loudly clapped for Falls during the Indians' runner-up awards ceremony just minutes after he scored the clinching basket with 59 seconds to go.

Players give their all

Falls forward Jonathan Phillips, who had to sit out the bulk of the Indians semifinal win over Waukesha North two days earlier due to a shoulder injury, battled back after intensive rehabilitation and rest to score 10 points in the final before fouling out.

And Germantown center Ben Averkamp gave all he had in a battle on the blocks. He picked up his fourth foul on a play where he took an elbow to the lip, a blow so hard that he bit through his lip. He swallowing the blood rather than letting it show so he didn't have to leave the game.

"He is just one tough SOB," said Showalter, who saw the same kind of tenacity in the Indians.

"Falls just played its guts out," Showalter added. "They played hard, they played smart. … I really give credit to Ben (Siebert) for turning that team around in a hurry after all he went through. They played like his old Cedarburg teams - tough and smart."

Siebert noted that the rivalry led to amped-up anticipation leading up the finale.

"It was great for our communities," he said. "Everyone showed up big time and our student support was just great. Everyone was talking in school on Friday."

Cheering for both sides

The old coaches would like to see this kind of success repeated. Thomas and Falls are still looking for their first-ever state berth.

"I tell you, a Falls team has to get to state soon," Thomas said. "I hope its real soon."

Kloth, after years of watching the Germantown program slide into mediocrity, is grateful for the recent success.

"County Line (Road) is not this great divide," Kloth said. "If we can't go to state next year I'd like to see Falls go. Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age, but I have a little compassion for Ben (Siebert) now. The only thing that would make me happier than to see them go to state is for us to go."

 

Steven L. Tietz can be reached at (262) 446-6619 or stietz@cninow.com.