GREEN BAY — The Appleton East Patriots lost to Kettle Moraine 69-53 last night in the Division One state title game, but still took home second place hardware.
As for the team, they rallied together a community and a father and daughter bonded on the court one last time.
“It is probably one of the games I would take back and prepare a little differently, but proud of the girls. Cap off to Kettle Moraine. They had a great season, a really good team. Great high school basketball game,” said Patriots head coach Joe LaChapell.
Despite falling behind by double-digits and putting the reserves in, the Patriots supported each other until the final buzzer sounded at the Resch Center late Saturday night.
“I'm proud of us for staying together and continuing to do what the coaches asked us to do and giving it our all,” said senior guard Emily LaChapell, who finished her career with a team-high 19 points in the title game.
For Emily, this was the end of a stellar high school career and it was also the last time playing under her father.
“Since day one really, he’s pushed me to be, not only the best player but the best person I can be and he hasn’t laid off me for a second,” Emily said. “We've had a ton of tough conversations, good and bad. I'm just really honored to have a person to have a role model – best friend like that to have coached me for this long. I am a result of the kind of influence that he’s had on me.”
And for Joe, it was the last time with his daughter before she continues her career playing at Marquette.
She's me,” he said. “She is – except more talented. "When you go to war with someone like that, it’s like you know what each other is thinking and today even, her kind of coming up with, ‘hey this is what’s going on out there, what if we try this.’ It's been fun. It's a blessing. Very special.
After the Patriots were awarded their silver medals and trophy, Joe and Emily shared a big hug, consoling each other over the loss, but celebrating a historic season.
“Sharing that moment was just really special and kind of felt like the crowd went away and it was just us. That was really cool,” Emily said.
Emily had been playing through a lower body injury and over a month ago, Joe thought they might have to shut her down.
“I told her I was proud of her and that I love her,” Joe said. “To have her push and persevere through that, I just told her, ‘you’re a warrior.’ I'm just proud of those moments as much as anything. Just being willing to go out there and sacrifice yourself for everybody else – it’s pretty cool.”
The players may have lost, but they rallied together a community. Many faces young and old came out to show their support for their hometown team.
“It’s kind of cool to see that, really. I was really kind of honored that they showed (up) tonight. I think that’s the kind of message that the girls won’t understand until they’re older, but they did something really special for that community,” said the head coach.
