Oshkosh – The De Pere Redbirds' (26-2) sectional final game ended in heartbreak as their historic season came to a close with a 75-79 loss to the No. 7-seeded Oshkosh North Spartans.
A matchup that lived up to its hype —drawing a packed crowd at Appleton North’s gym.
The Spartans, led by senior forward Xzavion Mitchell, came out firing, blazing through the first half with a barrage of 3-point shots. Each bucket seemed to ignite the Spartan fans in attendance. But the Redbirds refused to back down, matching the Spartans’ intensity. At halftime, the Redbirds trailed by seven, but their resilience set the stage for a thrilling second half.
“We were on the edge of our seats the whole game. It really came down to the last few seconds,” said a group of De Pere seniors in attendance. “It hurts to see our seniors fight so hard.”
The final minutes were a nail-biter. Senior guard Zach Kinziger drained a crucial 3-pointer to cut the deficit to just five points, rallying the Redbird faithful. However, it wasn’t enough to derail the Spartans' momentum. When the buzzer sounded, De Pere had fallen just short, 75-79.
“We worked every single day—practice, lifts in the summer,” Kinziger said. “We had a target on our back every single game and fought through that 28 times. I’m so proud of this group.”
Kinziger, who scored nearly 2,000 points and averaged six assists per game in his WIAA career, reflected on his time at De Pere and is now looking ahead to his future as a Badger. “This is all fuel to the fire—time for the next chapter of my life. I appreciate everyone that’s been a part of this,” he added. “I’m looking forward to representing the whole state of Wisconsin.”
The senior class of 2025 will leave an indelible legacy. Kinziger expressed confidence in the team’s ability to carry forward the lessons they’ve learned this season. “I just hope we were good enough leaders and set a good example for the younger guys,” he said.
The end of the game left Red Bird fans heartbroken, with a state championship berth just inches away. Senior forward Pryce Gregoire shared his perspective on the game’s pivotal moments. “A couple of empty possessions didn’t go our way. They came out and made some shots, got hot—that’s just the way it swings sometimes,” he said.
Gregoire and Kinziger’s departure leaves significant gaps for head coach Brian Winchester to fill. But Gregoire expressed faith in the younger players. “It hurts because these guys are my family, my brothers. We took the younger guys under our wing, showed them the effort it takes to get here. I hope they can learn from us and come back stronger next year.”
Despite the loss, the season will be remembered for its milestones and the leadership of players like Kinziger and Gregoire. The Redbirds may have fallen short of the state championship this year, but their determination has set a standard for years to come.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here