Wausa quartet sees its final action on the hardcourt for the Lady Vikes

WAUSA—The season ended with a sub-district defeat in the first-round play-in for the Wausa Lady Vikings.

That game, a 45-40 defeat to Osmond, wrapped the campaign at 6-18 for the Lady Vikings, who led 20-16 at halftime.

“We felt that we had a good game plan going into the game with Osmond considering we had just played them four days before,” Wausa head coach Brandon Kirby said. “We thought that the match-ups we had were the correct ones, we just needed to take care of a couple things and we would be in good business.

“For the most part we were right where we wanted to be. We jumped out the way we wanted too and were doing a great job. However, old bad habits came back to haunt us in the end.”

Osmond’s pressure forced Wausa into 30 turnovers, something that has plagued the squad this season. Morgan Kleinschmit led the girls with 11 points while Lady Viking Blair Wakeley finished with nine points.

Despite the loss, Kirby found plenty of good things to hold onto.

“First, was seeing Brooke Kumm come back after a year and a half knee injury and play her senior season,” Kirby said. “She didn’t just play but played above all expectations and had a major impact on the season and team. Also, late in the season I felt that the girls were doing a much better job playing together. This was something that we struggled with for the better part of the season. Trusting each other was a big issue for us and I felt that the girls did a much better job late in the season.”

They did improve while battling the foibles that kept them from winning even more games.

“I felt that finding roles for the girls to accept was difficult at times,” Kirby said. “Teams are at their height when players accept their roles and understand the team concept. Now, because we struggled in that area, I accept full blame for that. I should have done a better job of bringing them together and showing them the importance of their roles.”

So, what do the Lady Vikings have planned for the future?

“I told the young girls that if they want to reach their goals, they have to understand that walking into a gym does not magically make those goals appear,” Kirby said. “They are going to have to sacrifice in ways that I am not sure they understand, nor do many people understand. They will have to accept that sacrificing family and personal time is a must in certain situations in life.

“Many can make excuses or accept the sacrifices and be where they want to be. I told this to the young girls so that they understand how these things work and that they have a realistic viewpoint in their head. I told them they are going to have to get in the weight room, not just show up, but work harder than they have ever worked.”

Essentially the girls will have to push themselves to higher levels according to Kirby.

He will also have to do this without the seniors who have played their part.

“I told them that there are bigger and better things to come,” Kirby said. “I told them that college and families are right around the corner and to use what they have learned on the court to make their lives better.

“I have never felt that coaching in high school has been about wins. Wins are great, but they don’t make our players good people and wins don’t make the players’ lives any better.”

The four seniors — Kumm, Kleinschmit, Clara Schindler and Charlie Price — all reflected on their careers and their final season that was held during a COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since about third grade I have been playing a game where you put a round ball in a round hoop, the number of teammates has always been changing but there was always one teammate that was always there,” Kumm said. “I went from games of three versus three at the YMCA, to occasionally having to play four vs five, then getting a bigger team of six and playing a full five vs five. I’ve played in junior high and then later in high school.

“High school was the real challenge - sophomore year over halfway through the season I tore my ACL for the first time, and I worked hard to get it back but later in July of my junior year I tore it again. Finally, my senior year I was back, I got to start and finish a whole season of basketball. I love this game, so many crazy memories with so many people that won’t soon be forgotten.”

Price took two years off during high school but came back out this year just to experience some good times with the girls.

“I think there was definitely a victory in playing all of our games this year because every game could have been our last,” Price said. “Luckily it didn’t get cut short for us. It was a little stressful not knowing what game was going to be our last and not having everyone be able to come in the beginning of the season.”

Schindler said she learned plenty of life lessons and how to work with others in trying situations.

“I have enjoyed growing with my teammates and playing ball,” she said. “Basketball has always been my go-to activity and I am sad to see it end so soon. I am very thankful for everyone that has been a part of this journey and I only hope the best for the team’s future.

“At the start of the year, I was very nervous that we wouldn’t get to have a senior season in both volleyball and basketball. We were making sure that we were wearing masks and following the precautions advised to us. Still, every game could have been our last, so we learned to play that way.”

Kleinschmit always turned to basketball as her outlet and she too believes it has helped her in life as she moves on.

“It has taught me leadership, patience, teamwork, and perseverance,” she said. “I feel like this season could have gone a lot better but honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing from this year or from my basketball career.

“No one knew how this season would go but all we knew was to play each game and practice each practice as if it were our last because it may as well could have been. I wouldn’t call this season stressful more like a learning experience for everyone.”

Wausa 10 10 10 10 — 40

Osmond 7 9 16 13 — 45

SCORING

Wausa - Morgan Kleinschmit, 11; Blair Wakeley, 9; Alexa Cunningham, 7; Abby Kaiser, 6; Clara Schindler, 5; Anika Alonzo, 2.

REBOUNDS

Wausa - Alexa Cunningham, 9; Morgan Kleinschmit, 8; Abby Kaiser, 7; Blair Wakeley, 5; Clara Schindler, 4; Brooke Kumm, 3; Anika Alonzo, 3; Charlie Price, 2; Sienna West, 1.

ASSISTS

Wausa - Morgan Kleinschmit, 3; Brooke Kumm, 2; Abby Kaiser, 1; Blair Wakeley, 1; Clara Schindler, 1.

STEALS

Wausa - Blair Wakeley, 3; Morgan Kleinschmit, 3; Brooke Kumm, 2; Alexa Cunnigham, 1.

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