Sectionals Preview: Division 2
The WIAA playoffs will resume on Thursday with the sectional semifinals, followed by the sectional finals on Saturday. Here’s a look at what’s to come in the Division 2 race… SECTIONAL 1 (1) Onalaska vs. La Crosse Central – UW-La…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe WIAA playoffs will resume on Thursday with the sectional semifinals, followed by the sectional finals on Saturday. Here’s a look at what’s to come in the Division 2 race…
SECTIONAL 1
(1) Onalaska vs. La Crosse Central – UW-La Crosse
Another heavyweight fight between two of the top three favorites to bring home the gold ball. The winner of round three very well could be playing for a state championship later this month.
Onalaska took the first two meetings, sweeping the regular season series and winning the Mississippi Valley Conference. The Hilltoppers, who went undefeated against the state of Wisconsin this season, have a deep and cohesive unit, spearheaded by seniors Tyrell Stuttley Tyrell Stuttley 6'4" | PF Onalaska | 2020 State WI (14.1 ppg) and Carson Arenz Carson Arenz 6'5" | SF Onalaska | 2020 State WI (13.8 ppg).
La Crosse Central has top notch seniors of their own, a group that’s never missed the state semifinals. Wisconsin commits Johnny Davis Johnny Davis 6'4" | SG La Crosse Central | 2020 State #97 Nation WI (27.7 ppg), Jordan Davis Jordan Davis 6'4" | SF La Crosse Central | 2020 State #435 Nation WI (13.1 ppg), and top unsigned senior Terrance Thompson Terrance Thompson 6'8" | PF La Crosse Central | 2020 State #332 Nation WI (14.4 ppg) are gearing up for one last go-round, but they’ll have to have their best games of the season to get past Onalaska.
(1) Hortonville vs. (3) Mosinee – at Wausau East
Mosinee upset 2-seed Merrill to reach the sectionals. The Indians finished second in the Great Northern Conference and are led by senior point guard Luke Spink (19.3 ppg).
Hortonville was one of the biggest surprise teams in the state and are currently 19-5 overall and finished third in the always-tough Fox Valley Association. The Polar Bears get excellent guard play from junior Parker Lawrence Parker Lawrence 6'0" | PG Hortonville | 2021 State WI (14.6 ppg) and senior Cole Warning Cole Warning 6'1" | SG Hortonville | 2020 State WI (12.3 ppg), a Ripon commit.
SECTIONAL 2
(1) Seymour vs. (3) Kaukauna – at Ashwaubenon
Seniors Mason Dorn Mason Dorn 6'1" | SG Seymour | 2021 State WI (24.5 ppg) and Riley Murphy Riley Murphy 5'11" | CG Seymour | 2020 State WI (14.2 ppg) have been exceptional this season, leading the Thunder to a 23-1 mark this season. Winning the Bay Conference by two games, Seymour has found some challenges in the playoffs, not exactly breezing to wins over Green Bay Southwest and Luxemburg-Casco in their first two outings.
When Kaukauna is on, they can play with just about anyone. The Ghosts have a senior-laden squad full of college prospects, including Logan Jedwabny (19.2 ppg), Jacob Newhouse Jacob Newhouse 6'7" | PF Kaukauna | 2020 State WI (17.3 ppg), Keaton Ferris Keaton Ferris 5'10" | PG Kaukauna | 2020 State WI (12.9 ppg) — a Minnesota State-Mankato commit. Thursday will be a chance for Kaukauna to atone for a disappointing regular season and reach a sectional final for a fifth-straight year.
(1) Nicolet vs. (2) Whitefish Bay – at Port Washington
The Blue Devils and Knights split the regular season series, but Nicolet won the North Shore Conference and haven’t lost since the return of Jalen Johnson Jalen Johnson 6'8" | SF Nicolet | 2020 State #3 Nation WI .
Nicolet has won 13-straight, including two blowouts over Beaver Dam and Cedarburg to begging their playoff run. Johnson has averaged 17.0 points per game in his return for the defending state champs. Juniors Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'5" | PG Nicolet | 2021 State #240 Nation WI (20.8 ppg) and James Graham James Graham 6'9" | SF Nicolet | 2021 #59 Nation WI (19.4 ppg) are also having big years for Nicolet.
A 10-win ball club a year ago, Whitefish Bay is as improved as anyone in the state, currently sitting with an 18-6 record. Junior guard Jayden Jackson Jayden Jackson 6'2" | SG Whitefish Bay | 2021 State WI is a big reason for that, having a breakout season while averaging 20.0 ppg.
SECTIONAL 3
(1) Stoughton vs. (3) DeForest – at McFarland
These two teams met at the Badger Challenge and it was a good one. The Vikings were able to pull away late to take a 75-61 victory.
Stoughton won the Badger South Conference after winning 13 of their final 14 games and weren’t at full strength during their only loss of that stretch. Michigan Tech commit Adam Hobson Adam Hobson 6'4" | SF Stoughton | 2020 State WI (17.3 ppg) and Cael Mcgee Cael Mcgee 6'2" | CG Stoughton | 2021 State WI (15.4 ppg) have been playing well very off each other this season.
DeForest finished second in the Badger North Conference this season. The Norskies have a strong backcourt led by senior Trey Schroeder Trey Schroeder 6'0" | PG DeForest | 2020 State WI (14.0 ppg) and sophomore Max Weisbrod Max Weisbrod 6'1" | CG Deforest | 2022 State WI (13.3 ppg).
(1) Elkhorn vs. (3) Waukesha West – at Burlington
After a slow start, Elkhorn has turned it on during the second half of the season. Junior guard Jordan Johnson Jordan Johnson 6'2" | CG Elkhorn | 2021 State WI (24.6 ppg) has led the Elks to 13 wins in their last 14 tries and a share of the Southern Lakes Conference. Elkhorn also features UW-Parkside commit Nick Brown Nick Brown 6'4" | SF Elkhorn | 2020 State WI , a bouncy 6-foot-5 win that’s a difficult matchup.
Waukesha West was 11-11 in the regular season, but they’re starting to play their best ball. The Wolverines upset 2-seed Burlington by 10 points and have recently hung with Division 1 state powers Neenah and Arrowhead. West has some quality role players who can knock down shots, but they’ll go as far as junior Cameron Palesse Cameron Palesse 6'3" | CG Waukesha West | 2021 State #249 Nation WI (24.4 ppg) takes them.
SECTIONAL 4
(1) Milwaukee Lutheran vs. (3) Wauwatosa West – at Whitefish Bay
Milwaukee Lutheran survived a scare in the regional finals, hanging on for a two-point victory against Wauwatosa East. The Woodland East champs are 19-4 overall and have won 13 of their last 14 games heading into Thursday. Lutheran has one of the best backcourts in the Division 2 field in seniors Jourdan Weddle (19.7 ppg) and JaVeon Tolliver (18.3 ppg).
Wauwatosa West just continues to prove the doubters wrong. The Trojans had a surprising fourth place finish in the Greater Metro, arguably the toughest and deepest conference in the state. West also not only knocked off 2-seed Wisconsin Lutheran to reach sectionals, they blasted them by 20 points. Senior Justin Steinike Justin Steinike 6'1" | SG Wauwatosa West | 2020 State WI (15.8 ppg) has quietly been one of the most improved players in the state.
(1) New Berlin Eisenhower vs. (6) Catholic Memorial – Greenfield
The tournament’s cinderella, Catholic Memorial came out of nowhere to beat 3-seed Milwaukee Bay View and 2-seed Pewaukee in regionals. The Crusaders were just 9-14 in the regular season and their best player, Desmond Polk, was ruled ineligible. Memorial doesn’t have a star player, but can rely on the toughness and physicality of Wisconsin football commit Cole Dakovic Cole Dakovic 6'5" | PF Catholic Memorial | 2020 WI h (10.0 ppg).
The Lions have looked the part of a 1-seed, dismantling South Milwaukee and Whitnall en route to sectionals. Junior guard Sam Ludwig Sam Ludwig 6'2" | PG New Berlin Eisenhower | 2021 State WI (18.8 ppg) has been one of the top all-around guards in the state this season, helping Eisenhower gain a share of the Woodland West Conference title.