Their first-ever appearance at the state tournament in 2014 resulted in a championship. Kettle Moraine Lutheran's girls basketball team defeated Neillsville, 28-25 to capture a Division 3 title. It's the Chargers only gold ball in girls basketball. Prior to joining the WIAA, KML won a WISAA Class B championship in 1990 and finished runner-up on four other occasions.
Second-seeded Kettle Moraine Lutheran (27-1) returns to the state tournament for the fourth time and for the first time since 2024. The Chargers play Wisconsin Dells (28-0), the third-seed, on Thursday, March 12 following the 1:35 p.m. Division 3 matchup of #1 Oostburg vs. Mosinee.
The Dells will make their second appearance at the state tournament, after a 57-51 win over Edgerton in the Portage Sectional final.
"This time of the year, it's experience that's a great teacher," said Kettle Moraine Lutheran Head Coach Jason Walz during the WIAA state tournament coaches conference call. "The Dells has experienced kids and they do have young kids. They have the freshman guard and the sophomore shooter. They are good players."
Kettle Moraine Lutheran defeated Milwaukee Academy of Science, 70-43 in the Brown Deer sectional final to earn another trip to state. It was one of many big wins this season for the Chargers. Not bad for a team that had many positions to fill when the season started.
"We have two seniors that replaced the eight seniors that we lost from a year ago," according to Coach Walz. "We have a team with six sophomores and the rest are juniors. The kids have come together really well. You never know how it's going to be replacing so many seniors. We filled those spots with not only good kids but good players."
KML is rolling, playing some of their best basketball this time of the year. Their 16-game winning streak includes an impressive 69-62 win over Pewaukee on January 24. The Chargers ended the Pirates' five-year home winning streak, which included 55 consecutive home wins. Natalie Nolte, Brooklyn Luehring and Hayden Lauer played well for Kettle Moraine Lutheran. Pewaukee was a Division 1 fifth ranked team at the time.
The Chargers' 69-55 victory over Laconia, the eventual Flyway Conference champs, on December 8 was another statement win.
Kettle Moraine Lutheran suffered their only loss of the season at Hartford Union High School on January 6. The Orioles won a nail-biter, 62-60.
"You have to use it and grow from it and the girls did a good job with that," Walz said regarding the loss. "This group is a bunch of competitors, so they weren't happy that they lost. If we had a chance to play Hartford again, I'm sure our girls would embrace that and I'm sure Hartford would to."
KML's girls basketball program continues to impress, as they prepare for another trip to state.
