As the 2024-25 girls basketball season comes to an end, signs are pointing to a bright future for the team.
The team had many triumphs this season, including winning the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 2 regional title for the first time since 2018.
The plaque was not easily earned; throughout the season, the girls came together and practiced hard to achieve this accomplishment.
Brad Pickett has been coaching Stoughton basketball for 11 years and set high goals for the season.
“We wanted to win a conference title, but we fell a little bit short of that goal. We adjusted our goals towards the end of the season, and the girls were able to bring home a Regional Championship,” Pickett said.
Co-captain and senior Gracie Schmidt believes that the team grew throughout the season, and that’s one of the reasons for their success.
“We definitely got better as the season progressed. We had rough games and streaks of inconsistency, but towards the end, we definitely pulled it together and worked hard during difficult games,” Schmidt said.
Co-captain and senior Ella Hamacher also adds that a big part of their success this season was their mentality.
“We all wanted to work towards a common goal and wanted the team to do the best they could this season, and that’s what helped us achieve so much this season,” Hamacher said.
The 2024-25 brought many obstacles for the team, including injuries and tough games,
but the girls were able to push through it.
“We had many injuries that occurred throughout the season that really affected our team, especially when it came to tougher games. It was hard when fewer people were playing, but we were good at staying out of our heads and focusing on the game,” Schmidt said.
The regional game took place on Friday, March 1, against Milton. The game was stressful for the players and the supporters, but the players didn’t let that stress get to their heads.
“We didn’t get down on ourselves, especially as they scored; we would score right back, and the game was never out of reach,” Hamacher said. “We relied on each other and other teammates to stay motivated throughout that game.”
The team beat Milton with a score of 73-60.
After the regional tournament, the team moved on to the sectional semifinals, where they played against Edgewood.
“[The sectional semifinal was] definitely a tough game. We were the underdog, and they were really talked about this season,” Hamacher said. “Towards the end, we knew it was our final basketball game, which made it really hard.”
Although the team was unable to win against Edgewood, many of the players were awarded for their talent throughout the season. Hamacher earned unanimous first-team all-conference, Elizabeth Stokes earned first-team all-conference, Gretchen Tangeman was named honorable mention and all-defense team, and Schmidt earned honorable mention.
Not only did Hamacher earn a conference award, but she also scored her 1,000th point this season.
“It felt very rewarding to score my 1,000th point because of all the work I put into the sport,” Hamacher said. “It was a very happy moment.”
The team is happy with their season this year and developed a lot.
“I learned to appreciate being in the moment and not taking anything for granted,” Hamacher said. “We had a great season, and I’m very proud of the team.”
