The best in Pewaukee girls basketball

Posted: Dec. 30, 2009

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Amy Kempen (PHS 2005)

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Amy Kempen (PHS 2005)

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Chuck Delsman looks at Pewaukee, Kettle Moraine and Arrowhead and singles out the all-time best girls basketball players in each program, then finishes with the All-Time Lake Country area hoops team. Check back each week for another installment of the four-part series.

Girls basketball started at Pewaukee High School in 1976 with Jon Hisgen as the first PHS varsity coach. Others in school history have been Al Allison, Randy Daul, Paul Brester and Todd Hansen.

The program didn't enjoy a lot of success until recently, under the direction of Brester and Hansen. In the last seven years, Pewaukee boasts one of the best winning percentages in Waukesha County.

The top six players in Pewaukee High School history:

Stacey Schaeffer

The 1977 graduate was the first standout player ever at Pewaukee. The 5-9 forward was an outstanding offensive player, tenacious driver to the basket and strong defensive player. Schaeffer averaged 20.7 points per game her senior year, the highest average ever at PHS. Nobody played harder in school history than the aggressive Schaeffer. She went on to play volleyball at North Carolina State.

Amy Steffens

The 2004 graduate is the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,150 points. Steffens also ranks first in school history in steals and assists. She's also tied for first in most games played with 91. The 5-8 guard was an outstanding penetrator and strong defensive player, playing four years with the varsity.

Amy Kempen

Kempen played varsity basketball all four years at Pewaukee. The 2005 graduate is tied with Steffens for most games played (91) at PHS. The speedy 5-7 guard is the third-leading scorer in school history with 1,028 points. She also ranks third in career steals and fifth in assists.

Jenilee Klomstad

The 6-4 center is the best inside player in school history, rewriting the record books in blocked shots with an astounding total of 310 for her career. Klomstad is also the second leading rebounder ever at Pewaukee. The 2007 grad has the school record for most rebounds in a season with 266. Klomstad currently starts at forward at UW-Milwaukee.

Amy Slesar

The 2009 graduate was one of the most solid players ever at Pewaukee, excelling at all phases of the game. The quiet leader is the fifth leading scorer in school history, and the 5-10 forward ranks second in games played (90), second in assists and fourth in rebounds.

Jodie Schmidt Schill

The 5-8 guard also was one of the toughest players ever at PHS. The 1989 graduate went on to have a fine collegiate career at Carroll College in Waukesha. She has the school record for most points in a season with 441. She ranks fourth in scoring and has the second highest season scoring average at 18.7 tallies per game in 1989. Schill also ranks second in career steals, once recording a school-best 11 in one game.

Honorable Mention

Four players made the honorable mention list to complete a top 10 list at Pewaukee.

• Julie O'Connor is the second leading scorer in school history with 1,091 points. The 1996 graduate was a standout guard who had an excellent outside shot.

• Sam Klotz is arguably the best outside shooter ever at Pewaukee. The 2006 graduate is the school record-holder for most points in a game with 38. She has the school record with seven 3-pointers in a single game.

• Janelle Groer is now playing college basketball at Carroll University. The hard-nosed guard-forward had an outstanding senior season in 2008, putting up big numbers on offense developing a reputation as one of the school's toughest defenders ever.

• Sue Schmidt played with Schaeffer in the early years and still ranks as one of the best post players ever. Schmidt is the second leading rebounder for a season with 251 boards. The 1978 graduate was a strong defensive player and reliable inside scorer.

What's ahead

"From the Rafters" continues next week.

Jan. 7 - Kettle Moraine

Jan. 14 - Arrowhead

Jan. 21 - Best in the area