SILVER LINING: No. 1 Eleva-Strum ends strong season by finishing second at state

GREEN BAY – The Eleva-Strum girls basketball team was in unfamiliar territory.

Not only were they trailing in a game. They were down by double digits for the first time this season in the WIAA Division 5 state championship game.

The top-ranked Cardinals kept battling, but Eleva-Strum's magical season ended in a 70-40 setback against No. 2 Stevens Point Pacelli on Saturday afternoon.

Eleva-Strum, who dismantled and dominated opponents by double digit margins all season, finishes the best season in school history with a superb 30-1 record.

"We got off to a slow start against a really good team," E-S coach Dave Hazuga said. "We got behind and they made it really tough for us. We kept battling, but we just weren't able to make a comeback."

Pacelli capped a 25-4 season by winning the battle of the Cardinals at the Resch Center. The Cardinals from Stevens Point won their first state title.

Pacelli was effective defensively with a 2-3 zone and was disciplined on offense against a normally disruptive Eleva-Strum pressure defense.

Pacelli took excellent care of the basketball and had just nine turnovers Saturday.

Pacelli also excelled on the interior, scoring 34 points in the paint to just 12 for E-S.

Eleva-Strum senior Aliza Kulig knocked down a 3-pointer to start the game, but that would be her team's only lead.

Pacelli responded with an 11-0 run to take control. The No. 2 seed eventually built the lead to 15 points before leading 35-25 at the break.

It was the first and only game all season the Cardinals had trailed by double digits.

Eleva-Strum fought back and drew within single digits early in the second half.

Junior Maddea Brown drained a triple before classmate Avery Spangberg scored on a steal to pull E-S with 39-30.

"We made a little run and did a good job sharing the ball in that stretch," Hazuga said. "We made some plays and I thought that was going to be the turning point."

But Pacelli countered with a 13-0 run to regain control. And Eleva-Strum, for the only time all season, didn't have an answer.

"Give them credit," Hazuga said. "They made shots from everywhere. They have a heck of a team."

E-S leading scorer Avery Glenz finished with 12 points, all in the first half. She had eight rebounds.

Kulig finished her career with an 11-point game. She hit three 3-pointers.

Eleva-Strum was limited to just 23.7 percent (14-of-59) shooting. The Cardinals were 8 of 35 from 3-point range.

The taller squad from Pacelli also controlled the glass, outrebounding E-S 52-37.

Pacelli junior Jaedyn Zdroik finished with a triple double. She had 20 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

"None of this would have been possible without my teammates," she said. "This was a total team effort by everyone. And it is just a dream come true."

The Eleva-Strum Cardinals will return a strong nucleus next season with Kulig being the lone senior starter on the squad.

"We accomplished so much," Kulig said. "And this team has a lot to be proud of."

Eleva-Strum was playing in its second state tournament after falling in the semifinal round in 2008.

No doubt, this group of Cardinals had a memorable and historic season while capturing conference, regional and sectional titles before winning its state semifinal game Friday morning.

Not bad for a program that won just five games two seasons ago.

"What our girls accomplished this season was really special," Hazuga said. "We just got done playing in the state championship game.

"Our players did a great job all year. They worked hard and really came together as a team. It really is pretty incredible what these girls did."