Upset Bid Falls Short for Muskego Boys Basketball Team

The Muskego boys basketball team’s upset bid took a major hit less than two minutes into Saturday night’s matchup against Franklin.

After scoring the first basket of the game, Muskego senior post player Max Miskowiec fell to the floor clutching his left knee on a drive to the hoop. He never returned.

Already undersized, the sixth-seeded Warriors missed the 6-foot-4 Miskowiec’s presence in the middle in a 68-54 loss to the third-seeded Sabers in a WIAA Division 1 regional final at Franklin.

“They are 6-5, 6-6 and 6-7 and we are very small,” Muskego coach Andy Capes said. “Max is our only kid that matches up little bit. He’s a great senior and a talented kid. It’s a shame that he got hurt.”

Entering the game averaging 13.8 points per contest, Miskowiec is expected to get an MRI on his knee in the upcoming days, according to Capes.

Muskego, which split two games with Franklin during the regular season, finished with an overall record of 9-14.

Taking advantage of Miskowiec’s absence, 6-foot-7 Franklin center Nick Romanowski finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Brett Ksobiech scored all 13 of his points in the second half and Macon Plewa chipped in eight points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Muskego senior guard Danny Frawley scored a team-high 23 points on the strength of a 14-for-14 performance from the free-throw line. Junior guard David Mlachnik contributed 17 points and Jim Mock had five points and nine rebounds off the bench.

With Mlachnik and Frawley combining for 13 point in the second quarter, the scrappy Warriors went into the locker room with a 28-26 halftime lead.

Hurt by foul trouble, Muskego was out-rebounded 11-4 in the pivotal third quarter. With the score tied 30-30, the Sabers went on a 16-2 run that was capped on a putback by Matt Krueger to make it 46-32 with 2:04 to play.

“They killed us on the boards,” said Capes, whose team was out-rebounded in the contest, 39-21.

The Warriors got no closer than eight points on four occasions in the fourth quarter.

Franklin (18-5) put the game away by going 7-for-8 from the foul line in the final 2:28.

Frawley scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter before fouling out with 53 seconds left.

“Terrific kid, good student – just a fun kid to coach,” Capes said. “It’s been a pleasure.”

Along with Frawley and Miskowiec, other seniors on the Muskego roster are Matt Fellenz, Devin Grainger, Josh Kaiser and Trevor Hergert.