The Notre Dame Tritons under Head Coach Sarah Rhode are getting pretty good at this WIAA State Championship thing. The Tritons used a big second half to beat Pewaukee 68-54 making it back to back Division 2 state titles and the 4th championship in Rhode’s 11 year career at the school. The Tritons won back to back in 2013 and 2014.
It was an evenly matched first half as Pewaukee took a 26-25 halftime lead scoring 11 of the final 13 points of the period. Notre Dame went inside to senior Sarah Hardwick early and she went 5 for 5 from the floor in the first half for 11 points.
After intermission, the Tritons got red hot from long range. Sydney Whitehouse knocked down a three to put Notre Dame up 32-28 and then with a 36-30 lead, the Tritons connected on five straight three’s, four of them from sophomore Trista Fayta to open up a 51-36 lead. Notre Dame went 6 of 8 from the arc in the second half. The Pirates were forced to put Notre Dame on the line late and the Tritons responded going 15 for 20 from the line down the stretch.
Fayta put on a terrific show, scoring 23 of her game high 27 points in the second half. She was 6 of 10 from the field, with 4 three pointers in 8 attempts and sealed the deal hitting all 11 of her free throws, nine in the final minutes.
Pewaukee was led by freshman Amy Terrian with 16 points, Sarah Newcomer had 14. The Pirates finished 26-4. This was their second trip to state but at least they got to play a game. Their first appearance was wiped out when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived just as the 2020 tournament began.
Notre Dame finished the year the way they started it, with a victory over Pewaukee, 67-60 back in November. The Tritons dropped their next one to Appleton East but finished the season with a 28 game winning streak.
Hardwick would finish with 17 points, Whitehouse added 13.
With five titles overall, Notre Dame ties Milwaukee Washington for third most all time behind Barneveld with 6 and Cuba City with 11.
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