Sectionals Preview: Division 1
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The WIAA playoffs will carry on with Thursday’s sectional semifinals. Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down a loaded race in Division 1…. SECTIONAL 1 (1) Kimberly vs. (4) Eau Claire North – Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln The Fox Valley Association champs …
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Continue ReadingThe WIAA playoffs will carry on with Thursday’s sectional semifinals. Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down a loaded race in Division 1….
SECTIONAL 1
(1) Kimberly vs. (4) Eau Claire North – Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln
The Fox Valley Association champs look to atone for a surprising upset that knocked them out of last season’s sectional semifinal. At 21-3 overall, Kimberly have three double-digit scorers — senior Jake Buchanan Jake Buchanan 5'11" | PG Kimberly | 2020 State WI (18.9 ppg), a Rockhurst commit, senior Logan Pearson Logan Pearson 6'2" | SG Kimberly | 2020 State WI (13.8 ppg), and UW-Platteville commit, and sophomore Jackson Paveletzke Jackson Paveletzke 6'1" | CG Kimberly | 2022 State WI (13.5 ppg).
Senior guard Dalton Banks Dalton Banks 6'1" | PG Eau Clairie North | 2020 State #305 Nation WI will be looking to pull off the upset. The Southern Illinois commit is putting up 24.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. If Ashton Kallstrom (17.2 ppg) and Chad Kron Chad Kron 6'0" | CG Eau Claire North | 2021 State WI (13.4 ppg) play well, the Huskies are a high-octane offense that can hang with just about everyone.
(2) Neenah vs. (3) Chippewa Falls – Marshfield
One of the state’s hottest teams, Neenah has won 13-straight games, including an eye-popping 73-49 win over Kimberly. Wofford commit Max Klesmit Max Klesmit 6'2" | SG Neenah | 2020 State #407 Nation WI has been lethal all season, averaging 26.5 points per game. A state semifinalist a year ago, the Rockets will look to return to Madison for the second-stright season.
At 19-5 overall, Chippewa Falls won a very good Big Rivers Conference. Peeking at the right time, the Cardinals have won 11 of their last 12 games, with the only loss coming to River Falls by just one point. Falls has a strong duo in junior Joe Reuter Joe Reuter 6'4" | SG Chippewa Falls | 2021 State WI (16.5 ppg) and senior Peyton Rogers-Schmidt Peyton Rogers-Schmidt 6'5" | SF Chippewa Falls | 2020 State WI (17.2 ppg).
SECTIONAL 2
(1) Brookfield Central vs. (5) Brookfield East – at Hartford
Despite being 20-4 overall, East will look to avenge two losses to crosstown rival Central from the regular season. Both defeats came by double-digits. The Spartans are getting a breakout season from junior guard Hayden Doyle Hayden Doyle 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2021 State WI (20.7 ppg). Seniors Sam McGath Sam McGath 6'2" | PG Brookfield East | 2020 State WI (15.9 ppg) and Michael Poker Michael Poker 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2020 State WI (14.0 ppg) will look to get East back to state after reaching the title game two years ago.
The Lancers have a loaded lineup led by junior forward David Joplin David Joplin 6'8" | SF Brookfield | 2021 State #54 Nation WI (22.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg). Senior Eric Radisevic Eric Radisevic 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2020 State WI (13.1 ppg), who just earned a pair of Division 2 offers, junior Ben Nau Ben Nau 6'1" | PG Brookfield Central | 2021 State WI (12.6 ppg), senior Malik Abdul-Wahid Malik Abdul-Wahid 6'6" | SF Brookfield Central | 2020 State WI (11.7 ppg), a Winona State, and sophomore Andrew Rohde (8.5 ppg) would be Plan A options on a lot of different teams. After their loss to La Follette, the Lancers have ripped off 17-straight wins, including a sweep of Sussex Hamilton.
(2) Sussex Hamilton vs. (3) Arrowhead – at Germantown
This is the most intriguing matchup that Thursday has to offer. This will pit five-star wing Patrick Baldwin Jr. Patrick Baldwin Jr. 6'9" | SF Sussex Hamilton | 2021 State #2 Nation WI against Wisconsin commit and Mr. Basketball contender Carter Gilmore Carter Gilmore 6'7" | SF Arrowhead | 2020 State #250 Nation WI .
Baldwin and Sussex Hamilton are 21-3 overall with their only in-state losses coming to Greater Metro Conference champ and 1-seed Brookfield Central. The Chargers are also getting 15.1 ppg from Northern Michigan commit Carson Smith Carson Smith 6'1" | CG Sussex Hamilton | 2020 State WI and 14.6 ppg from junior sniper Tanner Resch Tanner Resch 6'0" | PG Hamilton | 2021 State WI .
Like Hamilton, Arrowhead’s only loss this season came to Brookfield Central. The Warhawks won the Classic Eight Conference by four games. In addition to Gilmore, junior wing Sam Hytinen Sam Hytinen 6'3" | SF Arrowhead | 2021 State WI (12.5 ppg) and freshman Mac Wrecke (11.6 ppg) are top players to watch in this sectional.
SECTIONAL 3
(1) Madison La Follette vs. (5) Waunakee – at Verona
These two teams met in January with La Follette winning 71-56 in Waunakee.
The Lancers won the Big Eight Conference this season. Currently one of the biggest surprises in the state, La Follette is 22-1 heading into Thursday. Built around a smaller lineup that can play 36 minutes of organized chaos, the Lancers have three senior guards who can go off on any given night — Ben Probst Ben Probst 6'1" | SG Madison LaFollette | 2020 State WI (15.6 ppg), Isaiah Stewart Isaiah Stewart 5'10" | PG Madison LaFollette | 2020 State WI (15.3 ppg), and Derek Gray Derek Gray 6'0" | CG Madison La Follette | 2020 State WI (14.1 ppg).
A dangerous 5-seed, the Warriors are 19-5 overall this season and won the Badger North Conference. They also upset 4-seed Sun Prairie last week to reach sectionals. Led by sophomore Andrew Keller Andrew Keller 6'5" | PF Waunakee | 2022 State WI (12.4 ppg), Waunakee has a balanced lineup and can space the floor with countless 3-point shooters.
(2) Madison East vs. (6) Oconomowoc – at Middleton
At 19-4 overall, East finished second in the Big Eight Conference. The Purgolders knocked off Kettle Moraine and Beloit Memorial to reach sectionals. East has a long, athletic lineup led by seniors Anthony Washington Anthony Washington 6'2" | SG Madison East | 2020 State WI (16.6 ppg), Keonte Jones Keonte Jones 6'3" | SF Madison East | 2020 State WI (14.1 ppg), and junior Jevan Boyton Jevan Boyton 6'5" | SF Madison East | 2021 State WI (10.1 ppg).
Oconomowoc upset 3-seed Madison Memorial in the regional finals. The Raccoons have a solid 1-2 punch in senior forward Caleb Flaten-Moore (17.8 ppg) and senior guard Drew Fisher (15.1 ppg), a UW-Whitewater commit. With last week’s win over the Spartans, Oconomowoc improved to 4-1 against the Big Eight Conference this season.
SECTIONAL 4
(1) Racine Case vs. (4) Kenosha Bradford
Bradford finished second in the Southeast Conference. The Red Devils have been tested in the playoffs early on, hanging on for single-digit victories against Racine Park and Muskego. Senior forward Maxwell Glass Maxwell Glass 6'4" | PF Kenosha Bradford | 2020 State WI (15.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) helped lead Bradford to 18 wins thus far.
Case won the Southeast Conference by three games. Sophomore guard JaKobe Thompson (21.4 ppg) is one of the state’s top scorers. The Eagles have an intriguing balance of youth and experience with a supporting cast that features sophomore Terryon Brumby Terryon Brumby 6'0" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI (14.4 ppg), senior Jonathan Rankins (10.8 ppg), sophomore Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI (8.6 ppg), and senior Nick Fugiasco Nick Fugiasco 6'3" | SG Racine Case | 2020 State WI (8.3 ppg). Case will enter Thursday’s contest having won 16 of their last 17 games, with the lone loss coming to Sussex Hamilton.
(2) Kenosha Tremper vs. (3) West Allis Central – at Racine Park
Last season’s state semifinalist, the Bulldogs have knocked off Racine Horlick and Marquette en route to their trip to sectionals. Senior forward Shilo Bowles Shilo Bowles 6'7" | PF West Allis Central | 2020 State WI (17.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is one of the state’s top unsigned seniors. If sophomore Najashi Tolefree Najashi Tolefree 6'6" | SF West Allis Central | 2022 State WI (14.0 ppg) and junior Jaqunis Rhodes (11.7 ppg) can continue to elevate their play in March, West Allis Central has a great shot to return to Madison.
Tremper has one of the state’s best kept secrets, Jyon Young Jyon Young 6'1" | CG Kenosha Tremper | 2020 State WI , who’s averaging better than 20 points per game this season. The Trojans routed Milwaukee Bradley Tech before survivng a scare from Franklin to advance to sectionals.