State Tournament Preview: Division 1
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MADISON — A look ahead to the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament, which will tip-off on Friday from the Kohl Center… 1. NEENAH (27-1, 17-1) Key Wins: Kimberly (3), Pewaukee, Brookfield Central, Appleton East, Middleton, Eau Claire Memorial Losses:…
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Continue ReadingMADISON — A look ahead to the WIAA Division 1 State Tournament, which will tip-off on Friday from the Kohl Center…
1. NEENAH (27-1, 17-1)
Key Wins: Kimberly (3), Pewaukee, Brookfield Central, Appleton East, Middleton, Eau Claire Memorial
Losses: Appleton East
Conference Finish: 1st in the Fox Valley Association
Projected Starters
G Chevalier Emery Jr Chevalier Emery Jr 6'1" | PG Neenah | 2022 State WI . (18.4 ppg, 4.5 apg) 6-0 Sr.
G Brady Corso Brady Corso 6'2" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI (9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) 6-0 So.
F Eli Schmidt Eli Schmidt 6'5" | SF Neenah | 2022 State WI (6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 6-5 Sr.
F Carter Thomas Carter Thomas 6'5" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI (15.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) 6-5 Sr.
F J.J. Paider J.J. Paider 6'7" | PF Neenah | 2022 State WI (11.5 ppg, 10-.7 rpg) 6-7 Sr.
Why Neenah?
A mixture of seniors and a bruising, athletic frontcourt.
He won’t win it in all likelihood, but Emery has a great case for Mr. Basketball. The Merrimack commit just won’t let his team die, hitting a number of game-winning/game-changing shots this season. You also factor in that Neenah is without sophomore Cal Klesmit Cal Klesmit 6'2" | CG Neenah | 2023 State #235 Nation WI , who would have been first or second on the team in scoring, Emery’s senior leadership becomes even more special.
The Rockets can also overwhelm teams at times with the frontcourt trio of Paider, Smith, and Thomas, who can all score, facilitate, and handle the ball on the perimeter. That versatility translates to the defensive end of the floor as well where they can switch and defend multiple positions.
4. RACINE CASE (22-6, 12-2)
Key Wins: Westosha Central, Waukesha South
Losses: Franklin (2), Whitnall, Wisconsin Lutheran, Brookfield Central, Verona
Conference Finish: T-1st Southeast
Projected Starters
G Terryon Brumby Terryon Brumby 6'0" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI (18.6 ppg, 5.0 apg) 6-1 Sr.
G Termarion Brumby Termarion Brumby 6'1" | CG Racine Case | 2024 State WI (8.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg) 6-2 So.
G Adrian Kobe Bryant Adrian Kobe Bryant 6'1" | PG Racine Case | 2022 State WI (15.4 ppg, 3.5 apg) 6-1 Sr.
F Cameron Werner (6.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) 6-7 Jr.
F Amari Jedkins Amari Jedkins 6'7" | PF Racine Case | 2022 State WI (17.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg) 6-8 Sr.
Guard play. Not taking anything away from Jedkins, who’s a special talent, but the Eagles have three downhill attacking guards who can live in the paint. The Brumby brothers and Bryant combine for roughly 57 percent of the team’s scoring and 66 percent of the assists for Case. After a shaky start, the Eagles have since won 13 of their last 14 games with the lone loss coming by two points to Franklin, a defeat they’ve since avenged in the playoffs by 16 points.
2. MENOMONEE FALLS (25-3, 14-2)
Key Wins: Brookfield Central, Whitnall, Waukesha South, Kimberly, Madison La Follette, De Pere
Losses: Pewaukee, Brookfield Central
Conference Finish: 1st in Greater Metro
Projected Starters
G Seth Trimble Seth Trimble 6'3" | PG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #50 Nation WI (26.8 ppg, 5.0 apg) 6-3 Sr.
G Evan Redding (6.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) 6-0 Sr.
G Steven Clay Steven Clay 6'5" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State #193 Nation WI (19.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg) 6-5 Sr.
G Cole Sciortino Cole Sciortino 6'3" | SG Menomonee Falls | 2023 WI (5.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg) 6-3 Jr.
F Greg Kemp Greg Kemp 6'4" | PF Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI (5.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg) 6-6 Sr.
Clay and Trimble are the best 1-2 punch in the state. This backcourt can absolutely explode and take over offensively. While Grant Martin Grant Martin 6'0" | CG Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI suffered a leg injury in the sectional finals, the duo combined for 53 points to help push the Phoenix past De Pere. Clay and Trimble won’t get a gold ball on their own, but both are virtually unguardable 1-on-1 at this level. Trimble, a North Carolina commit, has turned it up to a different level over the second half of the season and cemented himself as the frontrunner for Mr. Basketball.
3. BROOKFIELD CENTRAL (23-5, 13-3)
Key Wins: Racine Case, Menomonee Falls, Middleton (2), Sun Prairie
Losses: Wauwatosa West, Wisconsin Lutheran, Menomonee Falls, Neenah, Brookfield East
Conference Finish: 2nd in Greater Metro
Projected Starters
G Drew Edmond Drew Edmond 6'0" | PG Brookfield Central | 2023 State WI (5.9 ppg, 4.7 apg) 6-1 Jr.
G Robert Bloom (2.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) 6-3 Sr.
G Andrew Rohde (28.5 ppg, 7.4 apg) 6-7 Sr.
F Bennett Murray (8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg) 6-4 Sr.
F Jack Daugherty Jack Daugherty 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2024 State #311 Nation WI (13.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) 6-8 So.
Rohde is putting Mr. Basketball-type numbers in his own regard. In what was supposed to be somewhat of a down year for the Lancers, Rohde has kept Central among the cream of the crop teams in Division 1, leading the teams in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. The Lancers aren’t overly deep, but when they get good production from Daugherty, a budding top 10 prospect in the 2024 class, they can compete with just about anyone. In fact, Central is 16-1 this season when Daugherty scores in double figures, with the lone loss coming to top seed Neenah.
PREDICTIONS
Semifinals
Neenah over Racine Case
Menomonee Falls over Brookfield Central
State Championship
Neenah over Menomonee Falls