Scouting Report: Falcons Prepared for Popes' Two-Man Show

If the Whitnall Falcons need a blueprint as to how to beat their sectional semifinal foe – the Pius XI Popes – they need to look no further than the Mukwonago Indians.

The Indians handed the Popes two of their three losses, mostly by playing a zone defense which kept University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit Carrington Love, Pius’ point guard, getting in the lane and creating shots for his teammates.

So if the top-seeded Falcons (22-2) want to the second-seeded Popes (21-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday at , they need only to replicate Mukwonago’s zone defense, right?

In theory, maybe. But there’s one catch.

“I don’t know how to teach a zone,” Whitnall coach Kent Kroupa said. “Never played zone in my life. We’ll play a man-to-man defense and let the best man win.”

What? You’ve been coaching for nearly three decades and you’ve never played a zone?

“There’s been an occasion where we had a 1-2-2 and we’d play it for a minute or two years ago, but that’s it,” Kroupa said. “I guess I could retract never, so 2 minutes in 27 years. That’s close to never. Straight man-to-man. Always believed in that, grew up with that and that’s the way we play.”

The Falcons’ man-to-man defense will have to be in peak form Thursday. Love averages 19 points per game and 6-foot-4-inch forward Larry Fitzgerald is close behind at 16.

Love possesses a variety of moves and has the ability to change speeds and get to the rim in a hurry. He’s also knowlegedable of the game – Kroupa called him a coach on the floor. Fitzgerald plays more around the perimeter and is a regular beneficiary of Love’s penetration to the hoop.

“Love is the key to the whole deal. You let him penetrate, you let him get off and do the things he’s capable of doing and it’s a long night for everybody,” Kroupa said. “Either one has the capability to beat you. The one I think you need to contain and stop, it would be Love.”

Thursday’s winner will play either Milwaukee Washington or Wauwatosa East in a sectional final at 2 p.m. Saturday at West Allis Central. Washington and East play at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.