If it wasn’t for a fortuitous conversation ahead of a Division 4 state semifinal game, former Melrose-Mindoro coach Joey Arneson wouldn’t have had a clue that there was actually a chance that the WIAA had plans to possible stop the 2020 girls state basketball tournament mid-stride.
Arneson said he and his team were sitting in the Resch Center in Green Bay watching Aquinas play its state semifinal game when former WIAA assistant executive director Kate Peterson-Abiad came over to say hello and make small talk. It was then that she explained the WIAA would be meeting after the conclusion of the night’s games to decide if the tournament would continue.
That led to an ominous message for Arneson from Peterson-Abiad.
“Play this game like it’s your last, because it could be.”
“The concern level ramped up,” said Arneson who admitted that until that point, he hadn’t really been that worried about the growing COVID-19 issue.
“I don’t recall worrying (about COVID that week). I was so busy getting ready for state - hotels, food and t-shirt orders. I never had a chance to listen to the news. (I had) vaguely heard about it.”
“(I) never fathomed what would happen.”
Following his conversation with Peterson-Abiad, Arneson was faced with one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make - how do you break the news to your team that the game in front of them could be the end.
Arneson said he had about 20 minutes to decide if and or how to share this news with his girls - whom were excited to play at state for the third year. He chose to let the girls in on what could happen.
“(When) we went into our pregame routine, I told the team if could be the last game of the year,” said Arneson.
“I said ‘if we play on Saturday - great. If not, we have to hold our heads high.’”
Arneson says his decision to tell the team is one that he relives often.
“Did I do the right thing? Expectations were so high. It was tough for them. It was a defeating feeling. Thankfully we had that one game.”
Arneson explained that the topic of COVID and stopping the tournament was never mentioned again. Once that ball went up for tip-off, all minds were focused on getting at least one more win for their season.
That victory didn’t come easy. Melrose-Mindoro needed overtime to secure a 57-55 win over Mishicot and a place in a state final for the third-straight year.
“It (state) was completely different compared to other years when it (the Resch Center) was full with other coaches and people,” said Arneson.
“It was eerily quiet. It had a very errie silence to it.”
Even so, the veteran head coach said he was proud of the effort his girls showed in the wake of new and different adversity.
“I think the girls did well to beat Mishicot. It (the COVID news) affected both teams.”
FINAL DECISION
After the Mustangs’ win, the team and their parents went back to their hotel and enjoyed a typical night of victory. The girls enjoyed the pool and basking in the moment - a moment they had earned for the third-straight year - a chance to play for a state championship.
During that time the WIAA had made a decision regarding the tournament. For the first time that weekend, Arneson received an offical note about the fate of state - it would not continue.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
Arneson continued, “I went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It felt like it was ripped away.”
From there, Arneson was presented with another tough action - inform his team that their season would be over without complete resolution.
“It was the hardest thing I had to do all year,” said Arneson.
The jovial postgame victory atmosphere changed to one of sadness with girls and parents asking questions for which there were no answers.
The next day, the team packed up, loaded the bus and went home.
It would be the last time that group would be altogether as a team.
‘PLAYING IT OUT’ RUMORS
Almost immediately after the announcement about the cancelation of the WIAA state tournament, there were rumors about making up this third installment of Aquinas vs Melrose-Mindoro.
There were a number of rumors that ranged from playing the game that weekend in Green Bay at some outdoor facility to finding a way to make it up at home in some sort of ‘unsantioned’ affair maybe something close to home like at La Crosse Logan.
The only real effort made to play the tournament out came when Arneson said he received a note from an official who had expressed an interest in officiating that particular game should all parties find a way to make it happen.
Of course, as we all know, the conclusion to one of the most interesting storylines in Coulee Region girls basketball history was never properly resolved.
For Arneson, the mystery of who would have won that third round of the Coulee Region state final is part of what makes the story interesting even now five years after the fact.
He said that he felt his team had a shot - perhaps its best in the recent series - of taking down a vaunted Aquinas program. Both teams had a handful of Division 1 players and had seen each other enough to have successful game plans in place. To formally decide a victor would have been the culmination for what was a girls basketball boon in the Coulee Region at that time.
“I know it would have been fun, but (not knowing who would win) is part of the mystique of it all,” said Arneson.
UNIQUE HARDWARE
What the WIAA did for the state championship qualifying teams was ship them commemorative trophies that were similar to the state championship ones with the verbage changed. Instead of the words STATE CHAMPIONS, the trophies read STATE FINALISTS. Melrose-Mindoro, Aquinas, Platteville and Wrightstown each received one of these trophies. The dozen teams that didn’t have a chance to play each received smaller ‘trophies’ that read STATE QUALIFIER.
Teams were also awarded individual medals along with the team trophies.
FUTURE HOOPERS
Even though Melrose-Mindoro ended its season without complete resolution in 2020, four of the team’s major players would continue their careers at the collegiate level
Emily Herzberg and Mesa Byom both went on to play at Division 1 South Dakota State University the next year.
Herzberg moved on to the University of Minnesota Mankato to finish her career, helping the Mavericks win a national title in 2024. Byom wrapped her collegiate career for SDSU on March 24 with a second round NCAA tournament loss at UConn.
Lexie McRoberts played two years at UW Superior and Calette Lockington played at Viterbo for two seasons.
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