Kettle Moraine Lutheran upsets top-ranked Laconia

Tierney Madigan had a look from deep 3-point range at the buzzer in overtime with a chance to tie.

The shot looked good, but caromed off the rim, securing No. 5 Kettle Moraine Lutheran's 54-51 nonconference road upset of No. 1 Laconia.

KML (11-1) left the door open inside the final 10 seconds of OT when Hayden Lauer missed two bonus free throws, but the Spartans failed to punish them at the other end.

Laconia was able to hold KML senior Mackenzie Luehring, who scored a game-high 25 points, scoreless during overtime. Sophomore Hayden Lauer hit a 3-pointer and freshman Brooklyn Luehring stepped up and scored a pair of layups.

"We had opportunities that we didn't take advantage of, and they hit some big shots at the end," Morgan said. "It was a great battle of two great teams."

Lauer's triple came with about 50 seconds left to give KML a 52-49 lead; Laconia trailed the rest of the way.

The Spartans (9-2) were without two starters in OT, for Aubrey Leonard and Payton Morgan both fouled out in regulation.

"We had some foul trouble we had to battle," Morgan said. "It didn't help that we had to sit some kids in the first half. Payton probably sat seven or eight minutes at the end of the first half, we had to pull Eva [Engel] at the end of the first half, Aubrey fouled out and we were managing her fouls in the second half, so those things certainly don't help."

Morgan's fifth foul sent Mackenzie Luehring to the line for double bonus with KML up 47-45.

She missed both and on the ensuing Laconia possession, Madigan drove baseline and fired a pass across the lane to Molly Duel, who scored at the rim to tie the game with 12 seconds left in regulation.

"I thought this was maybe Molly's best game of the season," Morgan said. "I thought she really brought a lot of energy and toughness just to keep balls alive and mix it up around the basket. I thought she was aggressive and looked a little more comfortable finishing around the rim tonight, so I was excited to see that."

Duel finished with 11 and forced OT.

The teams locked each other down in the first half and were tied at 19 at half. KML used long possessions with a lot of screening action, but Laconia played sound defense.

Morgan said he was happy with the first-half defensive effort, noting that the Chargers were fortunate with several long-range shots.

"I liked our defense in the first half," Morgan said. "You know, 9 out of those 19 points, 6 of them came out of a girl that we didn't think could shoot the 3 and one of them was a banked in 3 from the top of the key that, quite honestly, that's not a great shot and she banks it in."

Mollie Murphy was player Morgan was referencing. She came into the game just 1-for-5 from deep on the year; she went 1-for-1 against Laconia; she made another 3-pointer that was changed to a 2 because her toe was on the line. Mackenzie Luehring made the banked in 3-pointer from about 5 feet beyond the arc.

KML was able to take away Payton Morgan and Aubrey Leonard. Morgan did not score, and Leonard scored a single basket, a layup in transition in the second half.

Chris Morgan said Payton didn't get many opportunities, partially because of the defense and partially because she wasn't on the floor as much as usual.

"Payton didn't get many touches, she didn't get many looks at the basket," Morgan said. "Some of that is the pressure they're bringing on the ball and then we're not confident maybe making some of those passes.

"I think they were probably sticking to her a little tighter there and again, some of it was the fact that she didn't play as many minutes with foul trouble."

Laconia also left points at the line, where the Spartans (9-2) went 11-for-17. All of their attempts came in regulation.

KML played a physical style of defense, grabbing and bumping the Spartans when they tried to initiate the offense. Morgan said he hopes the team learns from the loss to play stronger with the ball.

"I think we've got to handle ball pressure a little bit better," Morgan said. "They get out, they're really handsy. You know, if the refs aren't going to call some of that stuff, you've just got to play through it.

"There was times we did, I thought, but there was a few moments in the second half where I thought we got a little sloppy with the ball. Those things hurt you. When you're in a tight game, you can't give away possessions."

PHOTO GALLERY: KML at Laconia - 1/6/2025