Preview: WIAA Division 1 Sectional Finals
Only eight teams remain in the WIAA Division Division 1 state tournament. On Saturday, the final four teams will clinch their berths to the Kohl Center and keep their state championship dreams alive.
SECTIONAL 1 (at Marshfield)
#1 Oshkosh North (24-1) vs. #3 Stevens Point (20-5)
This is a rematch of the 2016-17 sectional semifinal, which SPASH won 76-61, ending North’s perfect season. This time, the Spartans are the favorites. Iowa State commit Tyrese Haliburton (23.3 ppg) and Northwest Missouri State commit Drew Blair (29.8 ppg) go toe-to-toe in what should be a terrific individual matchup.
How they got here:
Oshkosh North
Defeated #16 Appleton North 87-48
Defeated #8 Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 90-68
Defeated #4 Eau Claire North 75-59
Stevens Point
Defeated #14 Appleton East 70-57
Defeated #6 Oshkosh West 76-46
Defeated #2 Kimberly 61-54
SECTIONAL 2 (at Oconomowoc)
#3 Kettle Moraine (20-5) vs. #5 Sussex Hamilton (16-9)
One of these surprise contenders will advance to state.
Sussex Hamilton has turned a corner in March, particularly defensively. The Chargers are only allowing 52.0 ppg in March. 2021 G/F Patrick Baldwin Jr. (16.4 ppg) has been terrific, but Hamilton is also getting big production from Lucas Finnessy, Carson Smith, and Tanner Resch.
2019 guard Nate Jenkins (15.6 ppg) leads the Lasers into this matchup. Winners in 10 of their last 11 games, Kettle Moraine was able to avenge two regular season losses to Arrowhead to advance to Saturday.
How they got here:
Kettle Moraine
Defeated #14 Hartford 81-67
Defeated #6 Sheboygan North 70-58
Defeated #2 Arrowhead 61-55
Sussex Hamilton
Defeated #12 Germantown 84-55
Defeated #4 Waukesha North 64-52
Defeated #1 Bay Port 59-49
SECTIONAL 3 (at Oregon)
#1 Sun Prairie (24-1) vs. #3 Madison East (19-6)
Round three between these two Big Eight rivals. Sun Prairie took both regular season matchups by an average of 10.5 ppg, but East has caught fire down the stretch of the season, riding a 13-game winning streak.
The Cardinals haven’t lost with 2020 G/F Jalen Johnson (17.7 ppg) in the lineup. Sun Prairie has been getting their opponents’ best shot, but Marlon Ruffin (17.2 ppg) and a strong supporting cast that just won’t fold has kept this train rolling.
The Purgolders will put up a fight. Do-it-all forward Keshawn Justice (20.1 ppg), a Santa Clara commit, as well as a flurry of quick, pesky guards can rattle and frustrate opponents.
How they got here:
Sun Prairie
Defeated #17 Madison West
Defeated #8 Kenosha Bradford 72-53
Defeated #4 Madison LaFollette 63-56
Madison East
Defeated #14 Beloit Memorial 78-58
Defeated #6 Mukwonago 81-64
Defeated #2 Waunakee 76-71
SECTIONAL 4 (at West Allis Central)
#2 Brookfield East (23-2) vs. #4 Racine Park (21-4)
Big time matchup in the post between Hillsdale commit Patrick Cartier (22.5 ppg) and 2019 F/C Nobal Days, who leads Racine Park in rebounds and assists.
Certainly not a surprise that either team is playing for a berth to Madison, but their routes have featured much less adversity than expected with both #1 Franklin and #3 Brookfield Central knocked out in regional play. Still, whoever is left standing after this contest will have earned their trip to the Kohl Center.
How they got here:
Brookfield East
Defeated #15 Milwaukee South 52-34
Defeated #10 Milwaukee Hamilton 49-48
Defeated #6 West Allis Central 75-46
Racine Park
Defeated #13 Milwaukee Bradley Tech 87-51
Defeated #5 Milwaukee Riverside 63-57
Defeated #9 Marquette 72-66