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Delavan-Darien girls one game from state tourney

WALES — Delavan-Darien High School guard Kelly Supernaw had a feeling of helplessness during the final seconds of her team’s sectional semifinal basketball game against Lake Mills.

Supernaw stood motionless as Lake Mills guard Ellie Austin shot an uncontested layup at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.

Fortunately for Supernaw and Delavan-Darien, Austin’s layup bounced off the front rim and preserved the Comets’ 53-51 victory over the L-Cats here Thursday night at Kettle Moraine High School.

“My heart stopped, and everything was in slow motion on the last shot, and I told myself, ‘Please do not go in,’ ’’ Supernaw said. “And when the shot missed, I just went crazy.’’

With the heart-stopping victory, Delavan-Darien (22-1) advances to face Monroe (19-5) in a sectional final at 7 p.m. Saturday at Janesville Craig. The winner goes to the state tournament.

The Cheesemakers advanced by knocking off Reedsburg, 59-46, at Waunakee.

“Obviously the reward after the next game is nice, but if we don’t focus on our next game, then it’s not going to matter,” Delavan-Darien coach Keiya Square said. “Our girls know this and will be ready to go.”

Square’s team appeared to be losing its focus late in the fourth quarter against Lake Mills (19-5). The L-Cats battled back from a 49-43 deficit to draw within 53-51 with 14 seconds remaining.

The pressure increased on the Comets after two missed free throws with 10 seconds left.

Both teams then exchanged turnovers in the next four seconds, setting up one final possession for Lake Mills.

On that possession, Austin rebounded a wild three-point attempt and missed the layup as the final buzzer sounded.

“It would have been nice if the shot had went in, but it was a tough shot,” Lake Mills coach Pat Hauser said.

Adding to the L-Cats’ woes was their failure to stop Supernaw, who finished with a game-high 24 points, including 12 in the final quarter.

“That’s why Kelly is a four-year starter and a senior captain,” Square said. “She has only done it a couple times where she has just straight up taken over in the fourth quarter like she did tonight.”

Lake Mills appeared to be taking over the first half. Bailey Halvorson and Carol Cayo scored the final seven first quarter points to put L-Cats ahead 15-9.

Delavan-Darien got within 21-19 by halftime and had a 32-31 edge after three quarters.

Cayo paced the L-Cats with 18 points, while Amanda Trieloff added 12.

Meanwhile, Delavan-Darien’s defense held the L-Cats to two three-point goals after they had eight in a 66-51 regional final win over second-ranked Columbus.

DELAVAN-DARIEN 53, LAKE MILLS 51

Lake Mills (51)—Cayo, 7-3-18; Austin, 2-0-5; Bagneski, 3-2-8; Trieloff, 5-2-12; Halvorson, 3-2-8. Totals: 20-9-51.

Delavan-Darien (53)—Flood, 1-5-7; Nieuwenhuis, 1-0-2; Supernaw, 7-10-24; Cesarz, 3-2-8; Epping, 1-4-6; Collins, 1-1-3; Zugay, 0-3-3. Totals: 14-25-53.

Lake Mills 15 6 10 20—51

Delavan-Darien 9 10 13 21—53

Three point goals—Lake Mills 2 (Cayo, Austin). Free throws missed—Lake Mills 3, Delavan-Darien 10. Total fouls—Lake Mills 22, Delavan-Darien 10. Fouled out—Bagneski.

GAME AT A GLANCE

The play: Ellie Austin’s missed layup at the buzzer preserved Delavan-Darien’s 53-51 victory.

The player: Kelly Supernaw had a game-high 24 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.

The quote: “My heart stopped and everything was in slow motion, and I told myself, ‘Please do not go in.’ And when the shot missed, I just went crazy.” —Supernaw, on Austin's final shot at the buzzer.

The significance: The Comets advance to the WIAA Division 2 sectional finals—one game from the state tournament.

The agenda: Delavan-Darien (22-1) faces Monroe (19-5) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Janesville Craig.