Seymour Rallies late to defeat Freedom in electric playoff win

ASHWAUBENON — In a matchup worthy of its billing, the Seymour Thunder (26-1) outlasted the Freedom Irish (25-2) 56-49 Thursday night in the WIAA sectional semifinal at Ashwaubenon High School.

With both teams entering the game at 25-1, the packed gym featured a sea of red and green as two of Northeast Wisconsin’s top programs battled for a chance to advance one step closer to state.

Seymour senior Kyler Marks said the Thunder came in confident despite the challenge.

“We came in to win,” Marks said. “We knew it was going to be tough, but we’re both great teams and I knew we had a good shot.”

The game lived up to expectations early.

Seymour controlled much of the first half behind its strong defense, but Freedom surged late to take a narrow lead into the break. The Irish finished the half on a run to edge ahead 29-28.

Freedom carried that momentum into the opening minutes of the second half, extending the lead to 35-28 with 15:15 remaining.

But the Thunder responded quickly.

Back-to-back three pointers followed by a layup flipped the momentum and pushed Seymour back in front 36-35, igniting the Seymour crowd and resetting the game’s energy.

Marks said preparation helped the team stay composed during those swings.

“We practiced a lot,” he said. “We practiced their zone and what they were going to do, so we were well prepared.”

From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle between two evenly matched teams. Possessions became more intense as the clock ticked down and the crowd noise remained deafening.

With 3:30 left, the teams were locked in a 46-46 tie.

Seymour made its decisive push in the final minutes. The Thunder tightened defensively and executed offensively down the stretch, building a 51-46 lead with just over a minute remaining before closing out the 56-49 victory.

Marks led Seymour with a game-high 22 points, delivering several key baskets during the Thunder’s second-half run. Jordan Krause and Isaac Feske each added nine points to provide crucial support.

Head coach Bobby Kuchta said the electric environment made preparation challenging but rewarding.

“I don’t know if you really truly can prepare for it with all these fans,” Kuchta said. “You look up and half is red, half is green. It’s just an electric environment. Two communities that really came out and supported tonight.”

Kuchta said the coaching staff worked to simulate the atmosphere during the week.

“In practice, we tried to get some stadium noise,” he said. “Used some sheets to signal plays tonight, which we hadn’t done all year. Just really had to focus on communicating and everybody being on the same page.”

Freedom presented several challenges throughout the night, particularly with standout forward Donovan Davis.

“Donovan, just the way he can get to the rim, step out and shoot it, and his most underrated skill is his passing,” Kuchta said. “We just tried to get bodies around him and make it as difficult as possible.”

Even with that focus, Freedom received strong contributions from other players, including several three pointers that kept the Irish within reach.

Still, Seymour’s defensive pressure and late execution proved enough to secure the win.

With the victory, the Thunder now advance to face Appleton Xavier in the sectional final — the third meeting between the teams this season.

Kuchta knows the next challenge will be just as difficult.

“Playing Appleton Xavier a third time is never easy,” he said. “They’ve got some really good scorers and they’re really well coached.”

Despite being one win away from the state tournament, the message to the team remains clear.

“We’re not done yet,” Kuchta said. “We’ve got to stay hungry and finish the job.”

Marks echoed that approach as Seymour prepares for the next stage of the postseason.

“Take it the same way,” he said. “It’s going to be another big game, so take it one day at a time and hopefully come out and get the win.”

The Thunder will play Appleton Xavier on Saturday, March 14 with a trip to the WIAA State tournament on the line.