Games to Watch This Week
A look at the top games in the state of Wisconsin from Feb. 5-10…
MONDAY
Ellsworth (13-3) at Durand (13-3)
A small school game with big intrigue, a pair of 13-3 squads meet in a non-conference showdown.
Led by Alex Motley (19.0 ppg), Ellsworth sits second in the Middle Border Conference. They come in having won eight in a row.
Durand is currently running away with the Dunn-St. Croix Conference with a perfect 10-0 mark. They enter Monday’s contest riding a seven-game winning streak.
Mineral Point (13-4) at Pecatonica (12-5)
Two conference leaders meet in another intriguing matchup.
Atop the SWAL, Mineral Point features a dangerous duo of Isaac Lindsey (17.6 ppg) and Brayden Dailey (20.5 ppg). The two underclassmen have the Miners as one of the favorites in Division 4.
A challenger from Division 5, Pecatonica is currently unbeaten in the Six Rivers East at 8-0. Colton Schraepfer (16.4 ppg) leads the way for a squad that hasn’t lost in just under a month.
Octonto (13-4) at Sturgeon Bay (9-6)
This one has implications in the Packerland Conference. With both schools looking up at Southern Door (11-0), the winner stays alive, while the loser falls out of the race.
Just 2.5 games behind the conference leader, Sturgeon Bay can make some noise with a victory on Monday. Should they beat Oconto, they’ll be looking ahead to a Feb. 16 matchup at Southern Door with a chance narrow the deficit.
Two games back, Oconto relies on its 1-2 punch of Connor Ebben (19.4 ppg) and Carson Moe (17.4 ppg). Having already dropped both contests to Southern Door by a combined seven points, Octonto’s chances for a conference crown are less likely.
Others: Northwestern at Cameron, Plymouth at Waupun
TUESDAY
Green Bay Southwest (12-5) at Bay Port (13-3)
The winner of this one could help decide a highly competitive Fox River Classic Conference.
Currently tied with Pulaski atop the standings with an 11-2 mark, Bay Port won the first meeting between the two teams this season 59-56. A pair of football commits lead the way for the Pirates. Cordell Tinch (14.1 ppg) is headed to Minnesota, while Jack Plumb (13.8 ppg) will take his talents to Iowa.
A must-win for Southwest (10-3), they’d create a three-way tie for first place with a victory and a Pulaski loss. Cole Bouche (18.8 ppg) and Will Pytleski (14.3 ppg) are two of the top prospects in the conference.
De Soto (12-4) at Wauzeka-Steuben (14-3)
Ridge and Valley Conference implications are on the line in this matchup.
De Soto sits one game back of Seneca for the conference lead. The Pirates won a 47-46 thriller in the first meeting between the two schools.
Wauzeka-Steuben is two games back in the race with four games remaining on its schedule.
Almond Bancroft at Pacelli
The two teams are within .5 games of each other in the Central Wisconsin-South Conference heading into Tuesday’s matchup.
Noah Kollock (24.6 ppg) can put Almond-Bancroft atop the standings with a win. He dropped 26 points against Pacelli back on Dec. 19.
Pacelli took the first meeting 66-64 on the road. The Cardinals can take a commanding two-game advantage in the conference standings with just three remaining on the regular season slate after Tuesday.
Others: Racine Park at Kenosha Bradford, Owen-Withee at Columbus Catholic, Manawa at Gresham Community, Necedah at Royall
THURSDAY
Dominican (14-2) at The Prairie School (13-4)
One of the favorites in Division 3, Dominican’s only two losses have come in Metro Classic play. One of those defeats came to The Prairie School by a surprising 19 points. The three headed monster of Gacoby Jones (22.3 ppg), Alex Antetokounmpo (15.3 ppg), and Abe Scruggs (15.2 ppg) looks to keep the Knights (9-2) alive for a conference crown.
Fresh off his commitment to UC-Irvine, J.C. Butler (25.4 ppg) can help The Prairie School take a major step in clinching a conference title. Butler posted 22 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the first meeting with Dominican.
Altoona (12-6) at McDonnell Central (10-6)
The winner stays alive in the Cloverbelt West Conference.
Jacob Chilson (19.2 ppg) leads Altoona (8-3), who is 1.5 games back of the conference lead. The Railroaders took the first meeting on Jan. 5, taking a 57-56 win at home.
McDonnell Central (8-2) can grab a share of the lead with a victory and a loss by Osseo-Fairchild. Hayden Baughman (21.4 ppg) leads the way for the Macks.
Sun Prairie (16-1) at Madison Memorial (14-4)
For the first time in 14 seasons, Madison Memorial (11-3) likely won’t win the Big Eight Conference. They’ll get a chance at some revenge against a Sun Prairie (13-1) team that is closing in on the title.
The Spartans took the first meeting 54-51 at Sun Prairie. However, the Cardinals were without Jalen Johnson (19.5 ppg) and haven’t lost with him in the lineup.
Others: Darlington at Fennimore, Neenah at Kaukauna, Crandon at Phelps
FRIDAY
Marinette (15-2) at Wrightstown (14-3)
Two powers, not only in Division 2, but in the North Eastern Conference square off. Both teams sit at 12-1 in conference play with Marinette taking the first meeting 64-62 at home.
Both teams put up big numbers offensively. Marinette features Matt Wagner (18.0 ppg), Jake Poetzl (16.5 ppg), and Jordan Wendt (14.1 ppg). Wrightstown will counter with Mayson Hazaert (19.1 ppg), Luke Haese (16.5 ppg), and James Hansen (12.1 ppg).
Destiny (13-2) at Milwaukee Academy of Science (11-6)
The reigning Division 4 state champions, Milwaukee Destiny, take on a new challenger in D4, Milwaukee Academy of Science. The two independents feature some of the top talent in the state.
Milwaukee Academy of Science has two Division 1 prospects in the 2020 class, Kaleim Taylor (21.1 ppg) and Darius Hannah (14.9 ppg). Explosive guard Diovonte Caldwell (17.7 ppg) will look to slow down the duo for Destiny.
Others: Racine Park at Racine Case, Milwaukee King at Milwaukee Washington, Northwestern at Bloomer, Nicolet at Homestead, Royall at Bangor, Stevens Point at D.C. Everest
SATURDAY
Brown Deer (16-2) vs. Stoughton (12-5)
A very intriguing non-conference matchup highlights the John Chekouras Classic.
Stoughton (10-0) leads the Badger South. Leading scorer Max Fernholz (12.5 ppg) is back from injury and will likely need a big effort against a Brown Deer squad that averages just shy of 90 points per game.
The Falcons come in hot, having won 10 of their last 11 games, including a huge victory over Whitnall. One of the top unsigned seniors in the state, Jay Gentry, is putting up stellar numbers in 2017-18, averaging close to 30 points per game.
Brookfield East (15-1) at Homestead (10-6)
This matchup will take place in the finale of the John Chekouras Classic at Homestead High School.
Despite losing Gonzaga commit Greg Foster Jr. to transfer, Homestead is putting together a nice season. The Highlanders are in second place in the North Shore Conference and are led by Ryan Waddell (15.9 ppg).
One of the most surprising stories of 2017-18, Brookfield East is tied atop the Greater Metro Conference. Hillsdale commit Patrick Cartier (20.8 ppg) is proving to be of the most valuable players in the state this season.
Others: Assumption vs. Barneveld (at Wisconsin Dells), Bloomer at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau