Top-ranked Nicolet girls remain unbeaten despite challenges

Glendale - Is it all smoke and mirrors that the rebuilding defending WIAA state Division 1 champion Nicolet girls basketball team is building its 11-0 record and No. 1 ranking in state AP polls on?

Or is there something more at work here for the team that lost its entire frontline to graduation, all of whom earned some form of all-state recognition?

If you ask coach Corey Wolf, it's a little bit of both.

Case in point, what happened on Jan. 3 in the Knights' first game of the new year against Waukesha South. It was their first contest after their triumphant run through the heady field of the Franklin Rathke Memorial Tournament just a week prior.

And the Knights appeared ripe for the picking.

Behind entire game

"I thought we were stagnant and passive on both the offensive and the defensive ends," Wolf said. "We were down the entire game and we were still down eight with just minute-and-a-half to go."

Eight points down with a minute and a half to go. Remember that thought.

"We took a time out and emphasized getting stops, and so we set up some traps. We got a little lucky in that they missed some free throws, and we got back into it. I remember Sara (Travia) hitting a 3-pointer with about 20 seconds to go to tie it.

"Then they turned it over, and Brittney (Nicolet's leading scorer Fair) had it in her hands. She attacked the basket and scored in the lane with about five seconds left."

The Blackshirts couldn't get a decent look up before the buzzer and the Knights had escaped with a 39-37 decision. It was the third decision by four points or less for Nicolet this season and third very significant rally of the campaign so far (including wins over DSHA and Pius XI).

"I don't know how we did it," Wolf said. "I watch these games and I keep hoping that the switch will get turned on a little quicker. South (5-5) did a good job of trying to slow us down. I told the kids we can't keep playing games like this, but we keep finding ways (to win)."

Fair finished with 18 points for Nicolet while Briana Gray had six.

Intensity picks up

The Knights had a much easier time Friday, outscoring North Shore rival Cedarburg, 32-18, in the first half and coasting to a 54-33 decision.

"I thought we came out a lot better and that our intensity was quite a bit greater (than it was against South)," Wolf said. "We put a lot of pressure on them and that really got us going. It's like it's been all season for us. When we do that with our defense, our offense looks great and when we don't, we look stagnant.

"But little by little, they're buying into it that we have to bring that defensive intensity. We're not having to tell them that every day, they're starting to do it themselves."

Fair had 20 while Gray had eight and Travia seven for Nicolet in the win over Cedarburg (2-3, 5-4). Wolf praised Fair and Travia and noted that point guard Courtney Smith is still the gum on the shoe that makes sure the Knights stick close to even their toughest opponents.

"We go where she goes," Wolf said. "She just brings such a consistent effort every night. Just so much effort."

Nicolet will be at Germantown (2-3, 2-6) on Friday. The Knights (5-0 in NSC play, 11-0 overall) remain tied with Whitefish Bay (5-0, 9-0) for the league lead.