Welcome to another buzzer-beating season

It’s just about that time of year again, when people scream at the TV in either delight or dismay.
But this isn’t about the stock market.
No, it’s buzzer-beating season, often reserved for the NCAA basketball tournament.
This year, I was fortunate to witness March Madness start a few weeks early, thanks to Grafton senior Emily Grisar.
I’ve found high school buzzer-beaters aren’t all that uncommon, given the thousands of games played across the country, but they’re not plentiful, either, and each one is special. I haven’t seen many, and just a precious few in which our local teams were the victors.
Hence what Grisar pulled off Feb. 25 was extraordinary.
She not only drained a buzzer-beating three-pointer a few feet behind the arc that extended the drama as the ball bounced back and forth on the rim before going through it; she kept the Black Hawks’ season alive.
This wasn’t a run-of-the-mill regular season game that only perhaps moved her team a tick up in the standings. This was the playoffs. Loser go home.
Grisar’s shot broke a tie and prevented overtime, but it still won the game.
Her teammates went berserk, and the regularly robust and civilly spirited student section ­— a parent even praised athletic director Kevin Moore on students’ behavior after the game — rightfully stormed the court. It was sheer, unabashed joy for seconds on end.
Grisar got more hugs than a bride in a receiving line.
Coach Matt D’Amato went bonkers, too, and it wasn’t even the biggest thing to happen to him in the previous 24 hours. His fourth child was born a day earlier, and he still had his hospital wristband on. He was headed to see his third daughter right after the game.
It was a storybook ending for the Hawks’ five seniors in their final home game. They and their teammates became closer this season than many squads.
“The people have been everything. That’s what made it great. We’re like, actually a family. It’s not just about basketball for us. It’s the people we’re with. It’s fun every day,” Ella Day said.
“It meant everything,” Ashley Weir said. “Growing up, just playing basketball my whole life, then being able to experience it with people that are able to support you. Even if you make a mistake, we just pick each other up. It feels good to be a part of a family.”
“I just think it’s nice how we all stick together. Coming up from club basketball, we all just stay here. It’s just nice staying with the same group,” Ava Wilmanns said.
For Maddy Wille, “I feel like it’s a safe place you can be. I’m so weird, but they don’t judge me, so I like it.”
Grisar said, “It’s my safe space, too.”
She gave the team a moment that will live on in scrapbooks or whatever digital devices have yet to be invented to store family treasures.
I hope they all take a whopping chomp out of the moment and let the juices of jubilation seep down their cheeks. These highlights don’t come along every day. But the memories last forever.
n In other basketball observations, Cedar Grove-Belgium girls’ coach Mike Bikman has a fun play in his arsenal that worked three times in a playoff win at Random Lake on Feb. 23.
On inbounds’ plays under the opponents’ basket, the Rockets tossed passes over the shoulders of defenders who had their backs to the ball. Rocket teammates, who were facing the inbounder, instantly sank shots at point-blank range before the Rams could figure out what was happening. They scored six points in a combined couple of seconds on those plays.
“Those are nice. I’ve been doing that forever and they still can’t figure it out,” Coach Bik said with a wink and smile after the game.
n In gymnastics accolades, let’s hear it for Port Washington coach Gale Sigler.
And Grafton/Cedarburg coach Gale Sigler.
Yes, Sigler, Port’s coach, took on a second team just to give teens the chance to compete because the Bullhawks had trouble finding a coach.
“I had great support from my family, the administrators and their staff, and, of course, my assistant coaches, Toni Snook (Port) and Kaylyn Garant (Grafton/Cedarburg), who truly made it possible to make it through this season. I couldn’t have done it without them,” Sigler said.
Congrats, coach. Grafton/Cedarburg couldn’t have had a season without you.
n So now it’s back to the buzzer-beating of March Madness. Perhaps some of you think working in sports in some capacity makes me better suited to pick the NCAA Tournament.
Well, do I have a prediction for you!
I can almost guarantee my bracket will be busted by the end of the first weekend of the tourney. You just don’t mess with tradition.