Waukee leaves it all on the court
WAUKEE, Iowa (BVM) — For the four seniors on the Waukee High School girls basketball team, March 5 was a day that had been four years in the making.聽
In the final game of their high school careers, Katie Dinnebier, Lindsey Kelderman, Peyton Kelderman and Megan Earney led their team to a state championship.
鈥淚鈥檝e played with the other seniors since fourth grade when I started playing basketball so to go out on top for our senior year means a lot,鈥� Dinnebier said.聽
This was a group of girls who had before this season made it to three straight state tournaments and a state finals appearance last year that ended in a 69-65 loss to Johnston.聽
鈥淲e fell short and they beat us,鈥� Warriors head coach Chris Guess said. 鈥淧lain and simple they just beat us.鈥�
It was after that loss that Waukee and in particular its seniors were determined to make it back. Even as the season approached and there was so much uncertainty, the Warriors were not concerned because of their seniors.
鈥淲e were kind of worried but not concerned because we had such a veteran group,鈥� Guess said. 鈥淭his is such a mature group. …They approach things like you would want an adult to approach things.鈥�
Waukee would need them as they would deal with two shutdowns during the season, leading them to only play nine regular season games which included a few without Dinnebier who was dealing with a stress fracture in her foot and resurgence of a heart disease she had been diagnosed with in fourth grade.
Although Dinnebier was able to avoid heart surgery and play through her stress fracture, Guess said that it was in the game that she missed that the Warriors were able to find their identity without their best player.聽
Through it all, the seniors on the team helped to bring energy to practice and the rocks that their teammates needed while trying to stay focused on what they were all working towards.
鈥淭here was this quiet confidence,鈥� Guess said. 鈥淭here was that intangible that it was their turn and they had earned the right to be in the position that they were. They quietly went about their business and got the job done.鈥�
鈥淕etting to the state tournament was important and I think everyone knew that,鈥� Dinnebier said.
This allowed them to enter the playoffs ready rather than worried about their lack of time out on the court. Then when the state tournament bracket came out they saw what they had been hoping to see: a chance to play Johnston in the finals again.
鈥淭he girls were definitely wanting the chance to redeem themselves,鈥� Guess said.
After beating Dowling Catholic in the quarterfinals and Ankeny Centennial in the semis they would get that chance.
鈥淭o get them again as another match up meant a lot,鈥� Dinnebier said. 鈥淚 think that really fueled the fire for us. We definitely had a chip on our shoulder and we were ready just from day one of the state tournament. We knew it was our time and we left everything on the court. We had nothing to lose so we just went out there and gave it our all.鈥�
Dinnebier herself had a career night, scoring 29 on 11 of 14 shooting and four 3s. Lindsey, Peyton and Earney contributed another 27 points as the Warriors beat Johnston in the rematch, 71-43. The four seniors scored 56 of the 71 points.
鈥淵ou kind of pinch yourself like, 鈥楧id that really just happen?鈥欌�� Guess said.
In just 14 games, the Warriors were able to become state champions in what was truly a team win. It took four year to accomplish, but there is no better way than to finish on top.
