Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic junior guard Eric Kenesie became the first player in WIAA boys basketball state tournament history — covering 107 years — to break the 50-point barrier in a single game.
The 6-foot Kenesie scored a WIAA all-division record 51 points in leading the fourth-seeded Lancers to a come-from-behind 83-72 victory over top-seeded Neenah St. Mary Catholic in a WIAA Division 4 semifinal Thursday night.
“It means a lot to me, having that record,” said Kenesie, whose previous high was 42 in last Saturday’s sectional final against Kohler. “But what really hits me is us going on to play another game here at the Kohl Center, playing for a chance to win the state championship. If we lost that game, the 50 points, it doesn’t matter. The outcome of the game is what matters.”
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The WIAA Division 4 individual scoring record had been 42 points scored in two games by Wausaukee’s Anthony Pieper in 1993. The all-division and Division 2 record had been 46 points by Cedarburg’s John Diener in 2017.
“We were down a little bit to start,” Kenesie said. “We had to get going. After I hit that first 3, it got me going a little bit. Then we started turning it up on the defensive end, which was good for us. We needed that. … The confidence that I had was good, but my teammates trusted me and my coaches trusted me and that’s what really gave me the confidence to keep going on.”
Kenesie scored 29 points in the second half as the Lancers (19-10) outscored the Zephyrs (26-3) by a 53-35 margin.
“We just couldn’t control Kenesie,” St. Mary Catholic coach Paul Bradshaw said. “He was phenomenal.”
Kenesie wound up 15-for-21 from the field, including making five 3-point shots. He made 16 of 19 free throws and had eight assists, four steals and two turnovers. Kenesie was 7-for-10 from the floor, including making four 3-pointers, and scored 22 first-half points for Kenosha St. Joseph.
“We knew we had to space the floor and give him opportunities to penetrate and dish off,” Kenosha St. Joseph coach Jose Garcia said. “And it started to work, so we stuck with it. … We trust him to make the right choice.”
Kenesie’s mother, Jenny (Knight) Kenesie is the school’s athletic director who is an assistant coach for the boys basketball team. She played college basketball at Louisville.
Garcia and assistant Kyle Clark played and started for the school when the Lancers made their most recent appearance at state in 2003.
Junior guard Eric Kenesie’s grandfather, Raymond Knight, was the coach of the Lancers’ team 20 years ago.
Senior forward Peter Stapleton added 18 points for Kenosha St. Joseph on Thursday.
Senior guard Daniel Griffith led St. Mary Catholic with 24 points, while senior forward Charlie Nackers added 17.
Griffith had 14 points and Fairweather added 11 as the Zephyrs shot 56% from the field in the first half and took a 37-27 halftime lead.
Four of the current St. Joseph team’s players are cousins, according to information from the school — Kenesie, senior guard Jack McTernan, junior guard/forward Tommy Santarelli and freshman forward Dominic Santarelli.
Kenosha St. Joseph will meet Onalaska Luther in Saturday’s title game in Division 4.
Photos: McFarland, Whitnall battle in nail-biting Division 2 boys basketball sectional final
McFarland's Aidan Chislom shoots over Whitnall's Ethan Thomas during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Dadon Gillen shoots over Whitnall's Ethan Thomas for a basket during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Andrew Kelley tries to turn the corner on Whitnall's Austin Herro during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Deven Kulp goes up for a shot against Whitnall's Josh Kaye during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
Whitnall's Austin Herro looks to drive past McFarland's Andrew Kelley during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Kyle Kussow defends against Whitnall's Jack Lutz during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Kaden Meinholdt fires a pass during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Braylan Roder celebrates a made basket during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland fans celebrate a made basket during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
Whitnall's Josh Kaye shoots a floater over McFarland's Dadon Gillen during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
The McFarland bench celebrates a made basket during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Aidan Chislom races up court against Whitnall's Josh Kaye during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland coach Jeff Meinholdt discusses with Kaden Meinholdt (0) and Deven Kulp during a set of free throws during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Dadon Gillen looks for an open teammate while being guarded by Whitnall's Ethan Thomas during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
Whitnall's Jack Lutz drives up court against McFarland's Kyle Kussow during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Andrew Kelley looks for an open teammate to pass to during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Deven Kulp tries to blow past Whitnall's Josh Kaye during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Kyle Kussow defends against Whitnall's Austin Herro during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland fans shout for a fourth personal foul on a Whitnall player during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
Whitnall's Myles Herro cuts in front of McFarland's Aidan Chislom during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
The McFarland student section cheers during introductions for Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Aidan Chislom looks to drive past Whitnall's Myles Herro during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
McFarland's Deven Kulp drives the lane during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
Whitnall's Ethan Thomas looks for an open teammate while being guarded by McFarland's Dadon Gillen during Saturday afternoon's WIAA Division 2 sectional final game at Elkhorn High School.
