The Sweet Sixteen.

Fans of March Madness understand this achievement.

These are the 16 teams that remain among the 68 that make it into the tournament.

The WIAA basketball playoffs work the same way. The D1 bracket consists of 68 teams across four sectional brackets. Each team is seeded 1 through 17.

For Craig, seeded 5th in their sectional, that meant having to win a road game to advance to the sectional.

And they did just that.

Following a 80-41 win over Waukesha South on Friday, Feb. 25, Craig traveled to 4th seeded Kenosha Bradford in the regional final on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Craig came from four points down with a minute to go, sending the game to overtime.

The extra period was dominated by the Cougars, who won 71-65.

For the second time in three years, Craig is a regional champion and a member of the Sweet Sixteen.

Coach Storbakken has been impressed with their play.

“Bryn (McBride) has 30 points in the last two games. Her three-pointer and Mya (Nicholson’s) free throw tied the game for us.”

The Cougars played without standout junior Ellie Magestro-Kennedy, who sat out due to an ankle injury. Coach Storbakken hopes she is able to play against Kettle Moraine. “She’s been getting treatment. We hope she can play,” he said.

They have a tall order in front of them. To advance, they must defeat the bracket’s top seed, Kettle Moraine, at Waukesha South on Thursday, Mar. 3.

The Lasers are also ranked second in the state and boast an all-state (and Arizona State recruit) player in Grace Grocholski.