Saxony Lutheran girls riding desire as story nears completion

One week ago I sat in the press box at the Bearcat Athletic Center at Dexter High School for a Class 3 girls sectional and listened to the Twin Rivers radio team chatter away next to me; late in the third quarter I listened to them tell their listeners about the "ineffectiveness" of Saxony Lutheran's Raegan Wieser.

Now, I know it wasn't meant as a dig at Wieser; rather, as praise for the Twin Rivers defense, and really was only in reference to a third period when — for the first time all night — the Royals went to-to-toe with the Crusaders. Up to that point, they were getting blistered pretty badly, and Wieser was on pace for 18 points at the half — not exactly an "ineffective" outing.

Still, he said it. And so I couldn't help but chuckle when Wieser opened the fourth quarter on her very own 7-0 run, and then, as punctuation, stole the ball away and dished off to a teammate to cap a 9-0 swing. It buried Twin Rivers.

I've spent a lot of time this past week watching Saxony Lutheran fulfill their mission of revenge while silencing anyone who might question them. The convincing victory over Twin Rivers was payback for a loss early in the regular season — one of only two defeats the Crusaders have suffered this season.

Then, on Saturday, I saw Saxony strike down a foe with even sweeter vengeance, taking out a Park Hills Central side that was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 3 and had ended Saxony Lutheran's season a year ago — at a time when the Crusaders were ready for a second straight trip to state, where they could issue another dose of revenge and exorcise the frustrations of a state semifinal loss the year before; overtime ended those dreams.

So the emotions were plenty in Saturday's quarterfinal.

After the win I asked senior standout Brianna Mueller about how a team prevails late in a game like the Crusaders did. Was it pure adrenaline? She admitted as much, saying her team's success is built on fundamentals, but at some point, when the games matter most and there's little separating teams, you've just got to jump on the back of desire and ride it.

I thought Saxony's ride was over. They started the game so convincingly, but Park Hills showed why it was who it was — No. 1 and the defending state champ — and punched back. As the game entered it's waning moments, it felt like the Rebels had played their worst and were still somehow leading. The difference on the scoreboard was not great, but it felt like the tide had turned and left the Crusaders awash on shore. And then Saxony Lutheran saddled up.

I haven't been around the past few years to see this team's ups and downs, but from what I've seen this season — and from what I've heard from others — this is a group fully deserving of the success and respect they've garnered.

Two years ago it wasn't their year. Last year was supposed to be their year, until it wasn't anymore. Now they've got just a few days left to fulfill their destiny. This senior-heavy group has written a story that has taken years to unfold and is now coming to its conclusion. I'm guessing they're ready to ride.