WIAA State Tournament Preview: Division 2
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The 2022 WIAA State Tournament kicks off next week. Here’s a look at the field in Division 2 as well as our predictions in March… SECTIONAL 1 THE FAVORITE – La Crosse Central (23-1) Knew the River Hawks would…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 WIAA State Tournament kicks off next week. Here’s a look at the field in Division 2 as well as our predictions in March…
SECTIONAL 1
THE FAVORITE – La Crosse Central (23-1)
Knew the River Hawks would be good. Didn’t think they’d be this good. Central ran through the Mississippi Valley Conference and went undefeated against in-state foes. This team has five players averaging in double figures, led by senior guard Devon Fielding Devon Fielding 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2022 State WI (14.5 ppg).
TOP CONTENDER – Onalaska (17-5)
The Hilltoppers lost two tight games to top-seed La Crosse Central and will likely take the third down to the wire as well. Onalaska leans on freshman T.J. Stuttley T.J. Stuttley 6'3" | SG Onalaska | 2025 #246 Nation MO (12.3 ppg). If he can be special and play beyond his years, Onalaska, who always seems to have a plethora of impactful seniors, can make it to Madison.
DARK HORSE – Fox Valley Lutheran (20-4)
FVL won the North Eastern Conference, which was quite competitive at the top. The Foxes feature one of the top unsigned seniors in the state, guard Josiah Butler Josiah Butler 6'3" | CG Fox Valley Lutheran | 2022 State WI (24.2 ppg), who can absolutely fill it up. This group notched a non-conference win over Xavier and is battle tested, having faced DeForest, Onalaska, and a grueling 18-game conference schedule.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Logan Baumgartner Logan Baumgartner 6'3" | SG Medford | 2023 State WI – Medford
Josiah Butler Josiah Butler 6'3" | CG Fox Valley Lutheran | 2022 State WI – Fox Valley Lutheran
C.J. Campbell C.J. Campbell 6'7" | SF New Richmond | 2022 State WI – New Richmond
Dustin Derousseau Dustin Derousseau 6'3" | SG Tomah | 2022 State WI – Tomah
Noah Feddersen Noah Feddersen 6'9" | PF Menomonie | 2022 State WI – Menomonie
Devon Fielding Devon Fielding 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2022 State WI – La Crosse Central
Davin Stoffel Davin Stoffel 6'5" | PF Mosinee | 2023 State WI – Mosinee
T.J. Stuttley T.J. Stuttley 6'3" | SG Onalaska | 2025 #246 Nation MO – Onalaska
SECTIONAL 2
THE FAVORITE – Ashwaubenon (20-4)
The Jaguars might be a 2-seed, but they don’t take a back seat to anybody in this region. The duo of Michigan Tech commit Marcus Tomashek Marcus Tomashek 6'3" | SG Ashwaubenon | 2022 State WI (25.6 ppg) and UW-Oshkosh commit Matt Imig Matt Imig 6'0" | CG Aswaubenon | 2022 State WI (15.6 ppg) can explode on any given night. Ashwaubenon split the regular season series with top-seed Notre Dame and won the most recent meeting by 10 points. The Jaguars also beat Division 1 favorite De Pere in January.
TOP CONTENDER – Oshkosh North (17-7)
These teams that play in a conference primarily made up of Division 1 teams are always dangerous. The Spartans are a little young still, but are going to be a very tough out. North has size, length, shooting, and solid guard play. Their 1-3-1 defense is one of the toughest things to prepare for as well. One of the state’s most improved teams, the Spartans finished fourth in the Fox Valley Association. The frontcourt/wing duo of freshman Xzavion Mitchell Xzavion Mitchell 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2025 State #119 Nation WI (21.8 ppg) and Stevie Clark Stevie Clark 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2024 State #322 Nation WI (20.0 ppg) is as good as it gets in this region — maybe in all of Division 2.
DARK HORSE – Notre Dame (19-5)
The Tritons had somewhat of a surprising year in the Bay Conference, finishing second behind De Pere. Notre Dame also played a very tough non-conference schedule and knocked off the likes of East Troy, Beaver Dam, and Randolph. This group features one of the better guard duos in the state that people aren’t talking about — senior Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell 6'1" | CG Notre Dame | 2022 State WI (15.1 ppg) and junior Emmett Lawton Emmett Lawton 6'2" | SG Notre Dame Academy | 2023 State WI (14.0 ppg).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stevie Clark Stevie Clark 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2024 State #322 Nation WI – Oshkosh North
Ethan Heck Ethan Heck 6'5" | SG West Depere | 2023 State WI – West De Pere
Matt Imig Matt Imig 6'0" | CG Aswaubenon | 2022 State WI – Ashwaubenon
Emmett Lawton Emmett Lawton 6'2" | SG Notre Dame Academy | 2023 State WI – Notre Dame
Michael McNabb Michael McNabb 6'4" | CG Grafton | 2024 State WI – Grafton
Chris Mitchell Chris Mitchell 6'1" | CG Notre Dame | 2022 State WI – Notre Dame
Xzavion Mitchell Xzavion Mitchell 6'6" | SF Oshkosh North | 2025 State #119 Nation WI – Oshkosh North
Donovan Sparks Donovan Sparks 6'3" | SF Nicolet | 2022 State WI – Nicolet
Marcus Tomashek Marcus Tomashek 6'3" | SG Ashwaubenon | 2022 State WI – Ashwaubenon
Jalen Womack Jalen Womack 6'2" | CG Menasha | 2022 State WI – Menasha
SECTIONAL 3
THE FAVORITE – DeForest (21-4)
DeForest won the Badger East Conference. Looking to return to the state tournament for the second-straight year, the Norskies are riding an eight-game winning streak going into March. Northern Michigan commit Max Weisbrod Max Weisbrod 6'1" | CG Deforest | 2022 State WI (20.9 ppg) is a do-it-all guard who’s elevated this program in a big way. DeForest already owns wins over Milton, Monroe, and Fox Valley Lutheran going into the playoffs.
TOP CONTENDER – Westosha Central
Senior guard Jack Rose Jack Rose 6'5" | SG Westosha Central | 2022 State #213 Nation WI (20.5 ppg) is looking to take the Falcons back to Madison for the first time in four years. Westosha Central won the Southern Lakes Conference and have won each of their last 12 games since getting routed by Pewaukee.
DARK HORSE – Milton (19-5)
When you’ve got Jack Campion Jack Campion 5'10" | PG Milton | 2022 State WI (16.6 ppg), you’re in any game. Milton also surrounds their star point guard with shooters, forcing teams to pick their poison. The Redhawks won a share of the Badger East Conference and split the regular-season series with top seed DeForest.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jack Campion Jack Campion 5'10" | PG Milton | 2022 State WI – Milton
Ty Fernholz Ty Fernholz 6'2" | SG Stoughton | 2024 State WI – Stoughton
Jordan Hibner Jordan Hibner 6'3" | SG Monona Grove | 2022 State WI – Monona Grove
Carson Leuzinger Carson Leuzinger 6'0" | PG Hutchinson | 2022 State WI – Monroe
Ryne Panzer Ryne Panzer 6'1" | CG Oregon | 2022 State WI – Oregon
Jack Rose Jack Rose 6'5" | SG Westosha Central | 2022 State #213 Nation WI – Westosha Central
J.T. Seagreaves J.T. Seagreaves 6'6" | PF Monroe | 2022 State WI – Monroe
Max Weisbrod Max Weisbrod 6'1" | CG Deforest | 2022 State WI – De Forest
SECTIONAL 4
THE FAVORITE – Pewaukee (21-3)
Since that loss to Wisconsin Lutheran on Jan. 4, the Pirates have been a force to be reckoned with. Only De Pere, who very well could win the Division 1 state championship, has defeated Pewaukee since. The Pirates have won each of their last nine games by double digits. Only one team, Lake Country Lutheran, has kept it within 19. Pewaukee is loaded top to bottom and plays so well together. Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI (17.7 ppg), Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'1" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (16.5 ppg), Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (16.5 ppg), and Josh Terrian Josh Terrian 6'4" | SF Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (11.0 ppg) are all good enough to be No. 1 options on most rosters. Not sure anybody played a more difficult schedule in the state either.
TOP CONTENDER – Wisconsin Lutheran (22-2)
The Vikings tied Pewaukee atop the Woodland West standings. Lutheran has one of the most balanced lineups led by Kon II Knueppel Kon II Knueppel 6'6" | SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2024 State #15 Nation WI (14.2 ppg), Jordan Glenn Jordan Glenn 5'11" | PG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2022 State WI (13.6 ppg), Jamiir Allen Jamiir Allen 6'0" | CG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State WI (13.4 ppg). Only De Pere and Pewaukee beat the Vikings all season. Lutheran has knocked off the likes of Pewaukee, Notre Dame, Arrowhead, Brookfield Central, and Minnehaha Academy (MN).
DARK HORSE – Whitnall (21-3)
Really tough draw for the Falcons, who won the Woodland East Conference. Whitnall may have to go through Milwaukee Bradley Tech, Pewaukee, and Wisconsin Lutheran just to get to Madison. Miami (FL) commit Danilo Jovanvovich (29.0 ppg) is having an outstanding senior season and is in the thick of things for the Mr. Basketball award. The Falcons have defeated the likes of Milton, Kimberly, and Racine Case this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Learic Davis Learic Davis 6'7" | SF Milwaukee Bradley Tech | 2022 State WI – Bradley Tech
Jordan Glenn Jordan Glenn 5'11" | PG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2022 State WI – Wisconsin Lutheran
Colin Hardrick Colin Hardrick 6'3" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2022 State WI – Wauwatosa West
Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI – Pewaukee
Jaquan Johnson Jaquan Johnson 5'10" | PG Pius XI | 2024 State WI – Pius XI
Danilo Jovanovich Danilo Jovanovich 6'6" | PF Whitnall | 2022 State WI – Whitnall
Kon II Knueppel Kon II Knueppel 6'6" | SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2024 State #15 Nation WI – Wisconsin Lutheran
Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI – Pewaukee
John Pitta John Pitta 6'0" | CG Whitnall | 2022 State WI – Whitnall
PREDICTIONS
Sectional 1: La Crosse Central over Mosinee
Sectional 2: Ashwaubenon over Grafton
Sectional 3: Milton over DeForest
Sectional 4: Pewaukee over Wisconsin Lutheran
State Semifinals
Milton over La Crosse Central
Pewaukee over Ashwaubenon
State Championship
Pewaukee over Milton