Latt action hero: Junior breaks school record

Posted: Dec. 18, 2012

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Russ Pulvermacher

Hamilton's Mackenzie Latt goes up for two points in front of West Allis Central's Gabby Coto-Valentin (20) and Bria Brown (23).

Russ Pulvermacher

Hamilton's Mackenzie Latt goes up for two points in front of West Allis Central's Gabby Coto-Valentin (20) and Bria Brown (23).

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Mackenzie Latt has developed a number of moves in her repertoire, but when one historic basket was all that separated her from a school record, it was back to old reliable.

"It was that drop step to the middle of a right-side block," coach Dan Carey said. "Tristen Hayes gave her a great pass, and she did the rest."

Facing Wauwatosa East on Friday, Latt's basket allowed her to eclipse the school record for scoring. She finished the night with 18 points in the 69-16 win, bringing her career total to 830, surpassing the old mark of 821 held by Christa Goetz since 1991.

It was part of a particularly efficient performance, as Latt shot 11-of-12 from the field. That's been the standard thus far for the 6-1 junior, whose team has started the season 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state coaches poll heading into Tuesday's battle with Menomonee Falls.

"She's shooting 82 percent this year; I couldn't believe it (when I did the math)," Carey said. "I had my wife guessing at the percentage, and she was guessing upper 40s, lower 50s. No matter who you're playing, that percentage is remarkable."

After scoring the decisive basket, the Hamilton parents stood, each holding a letter that spelled out "Congratulations, Mac."

"Everyone stood and cheered; it was really a neat moment," Carey said.

Latt has been the biggest component of a revolution for the Chargers program. She helped the Chargers win the first conference title in program history last season, pulling it off with an overtime win over Divine Savior Holy Angels on the final game of the season. Latt scored a career-high 31 points that night.

Goetz scored 29 points, a school record at the time, to cap her career in 1991 when the team lost in double overtime to Grafton in the sectional final, 67-63. That team finished 16-9.

Some significant tests loom for the Chargers. The squad will meet one of the top teams in Division 2, Beaver Dam, in the Ashwaubenon Tournament on Dec. 28. Battles with Brookfield Central and Divine Savior Holy Angels will happen seven days apart, on Jan. 11 and 18. DSHA, with reigning Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year in sophomore Arike Ogunbowale leading the way, will meet Hamilton on the last day of the season once again.

Latt was named honorable-mention All State by the basketball coaches association last year. She's not the only Chargers junior chasing history this season: Brady Ellingson on the boys side entered the week with 795 career points, ranking him sixth all-time. Next on the list is Dave Thorpe (986) and Steve Hicklin (993). Kameron Cerroni (1,376) is the program's all-time leading scorer.

Top scorers

Entering Tuesday, the all-time leading scorers in Hamilton girls basketball history:

1. Mackenzie Latt (Class of 2014), 830 points

2. Christa Goetz (1991), 821

3. Steph Kirchner (2009), 717

4. Jenny Prochazka (2001), 697

5. Jamie Romanski (1979), 688

6. Sara Koll (2005), 686

7. Courtney Lemon (2011), 677