Tabitha Renkas Hopes to Make Final Sectionals Trip Count

Tabitha Renkas stood in a circle with her teammates before practice, laughing as she bounced the basketball like a soccer ball on her knee. It’s a lighthearted moment from Renkas, a player that takes her game deadly seriously.

“I think everybody is trying to beat us right now,” Renkas said. “It all comes down to defense. Our defense wins games and that’s what we’re going to have to do to get back to state.”

Now that Renkas and the Crandon Cardinals made it to sectionals, the fun ends as soon as practice begins. “We need to leave everything on the court and push the younger girls to be the best that they can,” Renkas said.

Renkas leads the Cardinals in scoring with 13.4 points per game. She’s also the team leader in assists, steals and other, less tangible categories.

“Confidence and the ability to see the floor,” Renkas said, when asked about her strengths.

Head coach Keegan Kincaid has witnessed all three of the Cardinals’ regional championships, including the one in 2018 that led to a trip to state. He knows better than anyone how important Renkas’ experience is at this stage of the playoffs.

“Fortunately, we have a couple seniors who have been in that moment,” Kincaid said. “I think it’s an opportunity for them to seize.”

Renkas committed to Ripon College’s basketball team Saturday afternoon, just hours before the regional final. “I knew all along that she was determined to go somewhere and she made it,” teammate Lynzee McGeshick said.

The Cardinals were on the verge of a trip to state last season before falling to Colby in the sectional finals. They can get back to that round with a win over Bonduel tonight.