Friday’s Games to Watch
In this article:
A look at the top games to track around the state on Friday…
Franklin (2-0) at Oak Creek (4-1)
Sneaky good game in the Southeast Conference.
Franklin already has a resume-building win, having defeated Westosha Central and will be looking for another. The Sabres are led by senior power forward Carter Capstran Carter Capstran 6'6" | PF Franklin | 2021 State WI (16.5 ppg).
UW-Milwaukee commit Jasin Sinani Jasin Sinani 6'3" | SG Oak Creek | 2021 State WI (25.6 ppg) has helped engineer a big turnaround for Oak Creek since last season. The Knights have nice wins over Roncalli and Milwaukee Academy of Science, but now need to rebound after suffering their first loss of the season to Arrowhead.
Wauwatosa East (4-0) at Brookfield East (4-1)
There are no nights off in the Greater Metro Conference and this one will have league title implications.
Tosa East is sitting in first place after collecting wins over Sussex Hamilton and Menomonee Falls among others. Northern Michigan commit Brian Parzych Brian Parzych 6'2" | PG Wauwautosa East | 2021 State WI (16.8 ppg) and junior forward Leon Bond Leon Bond 6'5" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2022 State #62 Nation WI (15.0 ppg) are the headline players for the Red Raiders, who also have a deep supporting cast featuring seniors Alex Singleton Alex Singleton 6'4" | PF Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI (15.0 ppg) and Jay Hinson Jay Hinson 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa East | 2021 State WI Jr. (14.0 ppg).
Brookfield East was upset in their most recent outing, falling to Hamilton on the road, but can create a tie atop the league standings with a win. Washington (St. Louis) commit Hayden Doyle Hayden Doyle 6'0" | CG Brookfield East | 2021 State WI (27.6 ppg) is having a monster senior season. Freshman guard Tayshawn Bridges Tayshawn Bridges 6'2" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2024 #86 Nation GA (21.6 ppg) has been as good as advertised.
Neenah (5-0) at Kimberly (4-0)
You can make a case that Kimberly is the best team in the state right now, but they’ll have their hands full Friday night.
The Papermakers are rolling early on in the season with four blowout wins. Featuring a four-headed monster of Jackson Paveletzke Jackson Paveletzke 6'1" | CG Kimberly | 2022 State WI (26.2 ppg), Grant Asman Grant Asman 6'11" | PF Kimberly | 2021 State WI (11.8 ppg), Jackson Dudek Jackson Dudek 6'7" | PF Kimberly | 2021 State WI (12.2 ppg), and Owen Pawlikowski Owen Pawlikowski 6'3" | SG Kimberly | 2022 State WI (11.2), Kimberly has scored 100 or more points in three of those games.
The Rockets are just as deep, featuring four players who average in double figures, and that doesn’t include their x-factor off the bench in sophomore Cal Klesmit Cal Klesmit 6'2" | CG Neenah | 2023 State #235 Nation WI , a top 10 prospect in the 2023 class. Junior Carter Thomas Carter Thomas 6'5" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI (14.4 ppg) leads Neenah in scoring early on this season.
These two teams split their two meetings last season and were set to meet in the sectional finals prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Others to Watch: Bay Port at Ashwaubenon, Waukesha West at Waukesha South, Racine St. Catherine’s at Kenosha St. Joseph, Crivitz at De Pere