In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship and athletic excellence, New Berlin junior Reid Hepperly showed just how much he's grown as a player, leading his team to an exciting 42-39 victory over Pawnee at the brand-new Pretzel Arena.

The game began with a touching moment that exemplified the best of high school sports. Hepperly, the last player introduced, walked over to Pawnee coach Blake Lucas—his former coach—for a warm handshake and a sincere tap on the chest, demonstrating the lasting bonds formed through basketball.

"As a coach, he was good," Hepperly said of Lucas. "He pushed us real hard." That foundation clearly served the young athlete well, as he dominated the opening quarter with eight points, using his improved physicality to maneuver effectively in the paint. He finished with an impressive double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The game marked a special milestone for New Berlin, as it was played in the Pretzel Arena, the school's sparkling new facility that replaced the Pretzel Dome this year. Lucas, who coached at New Berlin for nine successful seasons—compiling a remarkable 165-102 record and two regional titles—acknowledged the quality of the new venue, calling it "a nice gym."

First-year New Berlin coach Neil Holderread is building something special with this veteran squad. Senior Gabe Molloy exemplified the team's resilience, scoring back-to-back layups to start the fourth quarter and tie the game at 33-33. Though the stat sheet might not always reflect it, Molloy's leadership and basketball IQ have been invaluable.

"Gabe sets the tone defensively, he gets everything organized offensively," Holderread praised. "He's a luxury to have, for sure."

The Pretzels faced adversity in the middle quarters, shooting just 3-for-16 in the second and 2-for-8 in the third. But this young team showed character, battling back from deficits to reclaim momentum. Carson Dodd's clutch 3-pointer late in the third quarter sparked the comeback.

Pawnee, now 5-9 on the season, also had standout performances. Sophomore Gavin Greer led all scorers with 15 points, while Ryder Smith added 10. The Indians are developing nicely under Lucas's guidance and showed they can compete with anyone.

The game's final minutes were thrilling. Max Pointer hit a transition layup with just over three minutes remaining, and Hepperly followed with another bucket to extend the lead. Molloy sealed the victory with a crucial field goal, giving New Berlin a 41-37 advantage.

"We're a veteran group," said Dodd. "We practice hard, we know what we're doing in that situation; we were prepared."

Holderread is clearly building a positive culture at New Berlin. "We are veterans, but we're continuing to learn," he said. "That's our goal. We want to get better every single day."

Now 11-4 overall, the Pretzels are proving that with hard work, respect for the game, and dedication to continuous improvement, special things can happen. Both teams demonstrated the values that make high school sports so meaningful: perseverance, sportsmanship, and the joy of competition.