Beyond the Game: Germantown H.S. boys basketball team
GERMANTOWN (WITI) -- The boys high school basketball playoffs start next week, and the team to beat figures to be a team that can't be beat.
In 2011, the Germantown High School basketball season ended with a controversial defeat in the state tournament. The Warhawks haven't lost since.
"That game up at Oshkosh against Appleton East, I remember it well and that's kind of what motivates and drives me everyday. Not that I needed anymore of that, but we never want to put ourselves in position where a call or two can take away a game," Warhawks Head Coach Steve Showalter said.
That partially explains why Germantown often pushes to wide margins of victory. Steve Showalter relied on son Zak in spurting to last year's state championship. Now, it's younger brother Jake who's contributing to the cause. The family hasn't forgotten that last loss.
"I remember seeing how the team reacted to that and how upset they were, and the next summer after that, how hard they worked to get where we were last year," Jake Showalter said.
Despite losing several key performers from last year's unblemished squad, Germantown just keeps winning.
"When you watch the Warhawks play, you can't help but be struck by their intensity. Sure, you see it in games, but it starts out on the practice court," Warhawks Junior Guard Lamonte Bearden said.
"(The energy comes from) the coaching staff and the players. Everybody on our team is hard-working, and so hard work pays off," Warhawks Senior Center Luke Fischer said.
"I think that's what Coach demands and we all know it, and if you want to play, you're going to have to go out there and play hard, and if you're not playing hard out there, then he's going to take you right out," Bearden said.
Germantown has now taken out everybody it has played over the past two seasons.