By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
A revamped Amherst High girls basketball team is back to defend its state title in Madison.
The Falcons, who started the year with a 3-2 record in the Central Wisconsin Conference large division, stormed back not only to take their conference crown, but they are in search of another WIAA Division 3 gold trophy.
Amherst (22-3) opens play Thursday morning against Bloomer (21-4) at the UW Field House. If the Falcons win, they will take on the Columbus (25-0)/North Fond du Lac (24-1) winner Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
"It was the greatest thing to get down there (last year). And it still is," Haferbecker said. "You definitely shoot high and keep your eye toward the gold ball."
Only four Falcons saw significant time in last year's state tournament run, which culminated in a 49-33 win over Viroqua in the title game. Meghan Simkins, Jenni Orsund, Anne Stanislawski and Jenny Dombrowski all played about 20 minutes in last year's championship. Orsund actually led the Falcons with 17 points in both the final and the semifinal. Simkins had a combined 12 points and 11 rebounds in last year's championship game.
That means several new Amherst players have had to step up, especially since the Falcons lost starters Melissa Schweitzer and Kari Thompson to graduation.
"It's taken a lot of work and patience to get where we are now. If you looked at us at the beginning of the season, people said they lost too much last year," Amherst coach Shelli Haferbecker said.
"The other girls really had to step up. Our sophomores were looked at to play like seniors."
The underclassmen have picked up the pace on offense in the postseason because opponents have paid a lot of attention to Simkins. The senior, one of two on the team (Caroline Quinn), is the team's leading scorer this season averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds a game.
"All tournament long, people spot her and key on her. She's in our offense, but she's taking two players," Haferbecker said. "In the tournament, other girls have realized they have to step up and they have."
Simkins said the experience that players gained last year should help in Madison.
"I think it makes everybody more relaxed," Simkins said. "It's not such a scary thing. I don't think it makes anybody overconfident. Everybody knows it's so competitive."
That competition starts with Bloomer, who uses a 10-player rotation and likes to push the ball up and down the floor.
"All we really know is they have a deep bench and they like to run the ball," Simkins said. "We need to be in very good shape and we need to hustle. They're a quick team that presses a lot."
The team is led by senior 5-10 forward Tanya Goettl and 5-9 sophomore forward Chelsea Meier but Haferbecker said any of the Blackhawks could create havoc.
"On any given night, any of the girls can come out and score in double figures," Haferbecker said. "At this point, we have to worry about what Amherst's going to do.
"Defense isn't the part that worries me. What worries me is our offense. We need to control the defense and don't let the defense control us."