After watching the Wauwatosa West girls basketball team lose to a below-average, shorthanded Whitnall team on the road Thursday, I might have fallen into the same trap as the Trojans.
"Right now, we're just not as good as we think we are," a disgusted Tosa West coach Mike Pietrowiak said after the 35-33 loss to the Falcons.
Watching the Trojans miss 17 of 24 free throws and at least five easy, unguarded layups, I have to admit, I might have overestimated them as well.
The Trojans usually play good defense, allowing 36.5 points per game; but watching them on offense sometimes feels like getting a root canal.
The Whitnall game was a perfect example.
"The decision-making was horrible," Pietrowiak said. "Offensively, it was worse. We had open kids all day. When we got them in the double bonus, you'd think we'd go inside with it. No. Then when we did, we couldn't make anything."
The Trojans led 14-7 after one quarter, but in the second period their offense scored as many baskets as I did.
Mariah Smith made one of four free throws to "highlight" the second-quarter offense, as the Falcons outscored Tosa West, 5-1, to trail only 15-12 at intermission.
With the Trojans leading 22-16 with 5 minutes, 23 seconds left in the third period, the Falcons went on a 10-0 run to take a 26-22 lead with 1:38 left in the quarter.
Point guard Jackie Glaser stole a ball and passed to Jenna Engel for a basket with 4:40 left in the game. Engel was fouled and she sank the free throw; Tosa West had its final lead of the night at 31-30.
The Falcons sank five of eight free throws to close out the game, while Tosa West missed twice. Ashley Ballinger sank a late basket for the final score.
The frosting on the cake had come with 11.2 seconds left, with Tosa West trailing 34-31 and Whitnall with the ball.
Pietrowiak called to his players to foul a Falcons' player, and one of the Trojans pushed the Whitnall girl to the ground, leading to an intentional foul, two free throws and possession.
"Foul them means grab their arm, stop the clock, not put them into the next county," Pietrowiak said. "Not get an intentional foul, give them two free throws and the ball."
This is a game that the Trojans needed to win if they wanted to be taken seriously.
They not only have talent, but they are nine players deep.
Glaser, Smith, Ballinger, Jessica Allemang and Molly Boyle, all seniors, start. But Eva Popp, another senior, and three sophomores - Engel, Jenna Lahmann and Paige Soles all can play.
It is especially frustrating to watch the Trojans work their offense correctly, pass well, get the open shot - and then pass up the shot. If I didn't have to be an objective professional, I would scream "Shoot the ball!"
I can't remember the last time I watched a boys game and saw a player pass on an open shot.
"If we're going to be one of the elite teams on our side (Woodland Conference Black Division), then we don't lose games like this," Pietrowiak said. "There is no reason to shoot so poorly, miss inside shots and go seven for 24 from the free-throw line. Good teams don't do that."
So now with six conference games left, it's important for the Trojans to prove they are an elite team.
The talent is certainly there to be one.
Tom "Sky" Skibosh can be reached at (262) 446-6620. Read Sky's blog at WauwatosaNOW.com.
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