Games to Watch This Week
A look at the top games going on around the state this week…
TUESDAY
Green Bay Southwest (13-6) at Pulaski (15-3)
Pulaski (12-3) is making a run at the highly competitive Fox River Classic Conference. The Red Raiders can set up a major showdown with conference leader Bay Port on Friday. Trailing Bay Port by two games with three to go, Southwest (11-4) can spoil Pulaski’s titles hopes and create a lot of havoc with four teams within two games of each other in the standings.
Elkhorn (13-6) at Union Grove (14-4)
This is a key game in the Southern Lakes Conference. Union Grove (10-1) is one game up on Westosha Central (9-2) and two games up on Union Grove (8-3). The Broncos may be on top of the standings, but they still have four games remaining, including another showdown with Central in the season finale. Elkhorn won the first meeting back on Jan. 9 by a surprising 16 points.
Others: Nicolet at Whitefish Bay, Green Bay Notre Dame at Sheboygan North, Cedarbug at Homestead, Rio and Randolph, Valders at Roncalli, Augusta at Whitehall, Kohler vs. St. Mary Catholic (Big East Conference Tournament), Dogeland at Hustiford, Waukesha North at Kettle Moraine, Drummond at South Shore, Assumption at Amherst
WEDNESDAY
Destiny (14-2) at Milwaukee Academy of Science (12-7)
Arguably the top two independent teams square off on Wednesday. The reigning Division 4 state champions, Destiny, haven’t been beaten in their own division all season. High-octane scorer Diovonte Caldwell is averaging 18.2 points per game this season.
MAS looks like a top contender to dethrone Destiny. Kaleim Taylor (18.2 ppg), Darius Hannah (14.9 ppg), and Amani Glosson (12.9) are three of the best 2020 prospects in the state. This team is young, but loaded with talent.
THURSDAY
Clear Lake (19-0) at Cameron (14-4)
Clear Lake puts its perfect record on the line. A victory would clinch the outright Lakeland Central championship with a victory. Bailey Blanchard (20.9 ppg) is one of the top small school players in the state.
Cameron will be looking to avenge a 68-57 loss to Clear Lake earlier in the season. Gunner Wilder enters Thursday’s matchup putting up 25.5 points per game.
Arrowhead (13-5) at Waukesha North (12-6)
Arrowhead (10-3) needs a victory to stay alive in the Classic Eight Conference. Currently .5 games back of Muskego, the Warhawks will be in for another battle with Waukesha North (8-5), who they edged 71-70 in the first meeting. 2020 forward Carter Gilmore (15.7 ppg) and Iowa State football commit Will McDonald (19.1 ppg) should be an intriguing battle in the post.
Others: Eau Claire North at D.C. Everest, Brookwood at Royall, Wrightstown at Freedom
FRIDAY
Onalaska (18-1) at La Crosse Central (17-2)
Onalaska can clinch the Mississippi Valley Conference championship with a win. The Hilltoppers (10-1) took the first meeting, knocking off the Red Raiders (8-1) 81-69 in January. These two programs have had some huge battles over the last few seasons and Friday’s rematch will only add to what’s been a heated rivalry.
What Onalaska may lack star power, they make up for in coaching and team chemistry. Noah Skifton (17.0 ppg) and Carson Arenz (13.6 ppg) lead blue collar bunch that knows how to win. La Crosse Central features three of the top 2020 prospects in the state — Johnny Davis (23.5 ppg), Terrance Thompson (12.5 ppg), and Jordan Davis (10.3 ppg).
Kaukauna (18-2) at Oshkosh North (19-1)
This is one of the biggest games in the state in recent memory. When the season is over, we could be talking about both teams as state champions. Kaukauna won a highly contested battle, 94-89 in the first meeting. However, the Ghosts (15-1) do have one blemish on their conference record, setting up a potential winner-take-all showdown on Friday.
This matchup is loaded with college prospects. West Virginia commit Jordan McCabe (26.2 ppg) and Iowa State commit Tyrese Haliburton will be worth the price of admission alone (21.4). Eric Carl, Quincy Anderson, Dylan Kurey, and others provide additional intrigue as well.
Others: Pulaski at Bay Port, Milwaukee Washington at Milwaukee Hamilton, Loyal at Columbus Catholic, Stratford at Marathon, Whitehall at Melrose Mindoro, Brookfield Academy at Milwaukee Messmer, Wild Rose at Almond Bancroft, Lourdes Academy at Hustisford, Madison LaFollette at Madison East, Wisconsin Dells at Mauston, Sturgeon Bay at Southern Door, Dominican at Racine St. Catherine’s, Manawa at Wisconsin Lutheran Valley, Sturgeon Bay at Southern Door
SATURDAY
Bay Port (15-3) at Sun Prairie (18-1)
Two Division 1 state title contenders meet in an intriguing non-conference battle. Bay Port sits atop the Fox River Classic conference standings, while Sun Prairie has already closed out the Big Eight.
The Cardinals are undefeated with five-star G/F Jalen Johnson (18.2 ppg) in the lineup. His running mate, 2018 guard Marlon Ruffin (17.7 ppg) is picking up some late Divison 1 attention. The Pirates counter with Iowa football commit Jack Plumb (13.9 ppg) and Minnesota football/track commit Cordell Tinch (13.6 ppg).
De La Salle (IL) (7-11) vs. The Prairie School (15-4)
Led by UC-Irvine commit J.C. Butler (26.2 ppg), The Prairie School made a surprise run to win the Metro Classic Conference, which they can clinch outright on Friday. They’ll get a big test against one of the midwest’s most prestigious basketball programs in De La Salle in the Illinois-Wisconsin Border Battle.
Others: New Trier (IL) vs. Racine Park, Destiny at Milwaukee Washington