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In 1986, before the girls on the Mineral Point basketball team were born, there was a movie made based on the 1954 Milan High School state championship.
One of the best lines in the moving was spoken in the last three minutes when coach Norman Dale diagramed a play the Hickory players did not want to run.
They wanted the ball in the hands of Jimmy Chitwood, a man of few words who only had four lines in the entire movie.
But the one he spoke at the end said volumes.
"I'll make it."
Mineral Point senior guard Clara Chambers had a Hoosiers moment.
Coach Mitch Wainwright went from the swing offense to the dribble drive and Chambers knew what was going to happen.
She was going to get fouled.
As she was leaving the huddle she told her father, assistant coach Mike Chambers, something on the order of Jimmy Chitwood's sentiments.
But she went a little deeper.
"There is no way I am missing these," she predicted.
And she was right.
Chambers swished six straight free throws in the packed gym at Baraboo to keep the Pointers in the lead and lock up a 58-54 win over Wisconsin Heights that sends the team to the WIAA Division 4 state tournament tonight when they face the Regis Lady Ramblers at 6:35 p.m. on the floor of the Resch Center, Green Bay.
Chambers made two at 2:48 for a 51-42 lead, two more at 2:31 to put the Pointers up 11 and two more aided by a friendly roll with 32 seconds left.
Hannah Zander tightened things for the Vanguards with her fifth three pointer of the game at 1:21 to stay within three. She capped a seven point run that featured baskets by MacKenzie Kraemer.
Jessica Schultz made the second of two throws for the Pointers before Chambers made two for a 56-52 lead.
Syd Staver iced it with two gift shots with 21 seconds left.
Chambers and Schultz led the Pointers with 16 each. MacKenzie Kraemer had 17 and Zander 15 for Wisconsin Heights.
Chambers finished the game with five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.
Schultz had 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Super sub McKenzie Schmitz entered the game when some size was needed and added eight points along with nine rebounds.
It was just another day at the office for Schmitz, Chambers and Schultz.
"It felt good to get some playing time and score some points," said the senior forward Schmitz. "I try and help my team any way I can and maintain a positive attitude. A positive attitude makes a difference and going to state will be amazing."
For Chambers it was fighting off Wisconsin Heights' intensity and the desire to run.
"I like a fast paced game," she said. "It was amazing to hear the crowd and play in this awesome atmosphere."
She said defense and making free throws are important.
"We practice free throws and do some running along with it," she said.
She said playing Cuba City Thursday helped because both the Cubans and Vanguards are very quick.
"They could be the quickest team we have played," she said about Heights.
As for going to state...."I can't put it into words yet," she said. "Our team is an amazing family and we have worked so hard for this. It is great we finally got it."
Schultz said she had some anxious moments in the game,
"We got up then we let them baWisconsin
About her double double Schultz said "It is awesome to be able to help my teammates this way."
"We are all about team," she added. "We have five players on the court and we need all five to win. One player can't do it alone,"
About going to state she said..."Right now I can't explain it. I have never been on a state floor. When we get there it will sink in."
Wainwright had some emotional moments after the game.
"I wish my dad could have seen this," he said with misty eyes. "He was there when we went as Pecatonica and I wanted to make it back one more time before he passed."
His father died three years ago.
"Maybe he was looking down watching today."
He said the fact the boys played at Baraboo last year helped the girls this year.
"We went the same route," he said. "They kind of broke us in. The girls remembered the excitement and that helped."
"Knowing the atmosphere helped."
SCORE BY HALVES
WH 22 31 54
MP 28 30 58
BOX SCORE
WISCONSIN HEIGHTS 54: (fg-ft-tp) Zander 5-0-15, Doherty 0-1-1, K. Adler 0-0-0, K. Kraemer 0-0-0, Barman 3-2-8, M. Kraemer 5-6-17, H. Adler 2-5-9 Totals 16-16/24-54 Fouls-20 Fouled out-M. Kraemer
MINERAL POINT 58: Staver 2-2-6, Bossert 0-0-0, Chambers 3-6-16, Schultz 7-2-26, Kruser 3-0-6, Ma. Aschliman 0-0-0, Qualley 1-1-4, Reichling 0-0-0, Schultz 3-2-8 Totals 18-13/18-58 Fouls-18
3 point goals
WH-Zander 5, M.Kraemer 1
MP-Chambers 2, Qualley 1