Back from the brink: Bulldogs now on hot streak

West Allis - Just a few weeks ago, the West Allis Central girls basketball team appeared to be in the midst of a lost season.

Now, though, the Bulldogs seem to have found themselves, and optimism is growing for the rest of the year.

On Jan. 13, after a 16-point loss to Menomonee Falls, Central stood at 1-10 overall and 1-4 in the Greater Metro Conference.

After that, however, the Bulldogs won four straight games and carried records of 5-10 and 4-4 into this week, which began with a home game against West Allis Hale on Tuesday night.

Taking down the leaders

Their latest victory was particularly notable, as they tipped then-GMC co-leader Sussex Hamilton, 42-41, on Friday night as Claire Hankins drilled a 3-point field goal at the buzzer. They had lost to Hamilton, 54-39, in an earlier meeting this season.

Central head coach Trudy Wahlen thought the turnaround was simply a matter of the Bulldogs learning to finish games.

"All season, our games have been close," Wahlen said, "even against the tougher teams. We just needed to get over the hump and start winning some of those games. The girls are picking up their confidence and they are playing well with each other."

Leading scorer Mehryn Kraker, who tallied her 1,000th career point on Jan. 20 against Brookfield East, added, "We are playing more aggressively now, more on edge. We've been the attackers, and we're the ones going to the free-throw line and creating turnovers."

Passing yields big play

Kraker put in 16 points on Friday against Hamilton, but her biggest play of the game involved her skills as a passer.

After the Chargers went ahead 41-39 on a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining, Kraker got the ball, dribbled downcourt and fired to Hankins at the top of the key for the winning 3-point shot.

The game-winner was Hankins' lone basket of the game, as she struggled with her shooting for most of the contest.

"She just kept shooting, and she shot (the 3-pointer) with confidence," Kraker said. "That was one of the most memorable moments of the season, and I was glad to have the honor of passing the ball to her."

April Wildes tallied nine points, all on 3-point field goals, and Jenny Wildes added eight for the Bulldogs, who rallied from a six-point halftime deficit and held the Chargers (6-2 in the GMC, 10-2 overall going into this week) to just four points in the fourth quarter.

"We've played so many close games this year," Kraker said, "and (against Hamilton), we put everything together. It was good to be on the other (winning) side for once."

Overtaking Tosa East

Central also downed Wauwatosa East, 68-50, on Jan. 24 as Kraker went for 25 points, Hankins 21 and April Wildes 10. The Bulldogs nursed a six-point advantage into the fourth quarter but outscored the Red Raiders 23-11 the rest of the way.

Even through her team's struggles, Kraker has been remarkably consistent this season - and throughout her Central career. Reaching the 1,000-point plateau two weeks ago was a nice reward for her efforts.

"It is a great honor," she said, "to be among the top players in school history. Many people helped me along the way: My coaches, Ms. Wahlen and Mr. (David) Mlachnik, my father Peter, (trainers and coaches) Mary Nellen and Latrell Fleming, my AAU Playground Elite group and of course, my Central teammates.

"It's been fun; we (the Bulldog seniors) started off in the fourth-grade recreation league together, then went through middle school and now high school."

Wahlen said, "I've known (Kraker) since middle school, and she has always worked hard. She has great mental toughness and is a great leader. Even though she is our leading scorer, she also gets assists, steals and rebounds; she does it all."

Kraker and the Bulldogs will look to continue their surge at home at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 against nemesis Brookfield Central (5-3, 8-6), which beat them, 59-46, earlier this season.