WIAA Tournament Preview: Division 3

<p>Who will take home the gold ball in Division 3? Prep Hoops Wisconsin breaks down the field and makes our predictions for March...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SECTIONAL 1 </strong></p> <p><strong>FAVORITES</strong></p> <p><strong>(1) Prescott (18-4)</strong></p> <p>West Texas A&amp;M commit  <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/parker-nielsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/parker-nielsen/">Parker Nielsen</a></a> (28.4 ppg) is one of the top scorers in Division 3. The Cardinals shared the  Middle Border Conference title with New Richmond. </p> <p><strong>(1) Wisconsin Dells (21-1)</strong></p> <p>The Chiefs have a very balanced, senior-laden lineup. Dells won the  South Central Conference by two games in a 10-game league schedule. This group has won 20-straight games dating back to Dec. 3. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DARKHORSE</strong></p> <p><strong>(2) Altoona (15-6)</strong></p> <p>Altoona won a very competitive Cloverbelt West Conference  by two games. The Railroaders are battle-tested with wins over Thorp,  Regis,  Mauston, and McDonell Central, going 6-1 against that field. </p> <p>Others: St Croix  Central (2), Mauston (3),  St. Croix Falls (3)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SECTIONAL 2</strong></p> <p><strong>FAVORITES</strong></p> <p><strong>(1) Wrightstown (21-1)</strong></p> <p>The Tigers  won the North  Eastern Conference with an impressive 17-1 mark. Wrightstown  had a dominant regular season, winning 18 of their 21 games by double digits.</p> <p><strong>(1) Sheboygan Falls (18-4)</strong></p> <p>Falls took home the Eastern Wisconsin Conference crown. The Falcons won their last 10 games of the season, including an impressive sweep over Roncalli.</p> <p><strong>DARKHORSE</strong></p> <p><strong>(2)Oostburg (20-2)</strong></p> <p>Oostburg split the Big Eastern Conference title with Division 5 favorite Sheboygan Lutheran.  Senior guard Cam Jaeger (18.1 ppg) leads the Flying Dutchmen, who have knocked off the likes of Sheboygan Lutheran, Kohler (2),  and Manitowoc Lutheran this season. </p> <p><strong>(2) Freedom (19-3)</strong></p> <p>The Irish were the runner-up to Wrightstown in the North Eastern Conference. The two losses to the Tigers were decided by a total of five points. Senior guard Zack Mashlan had a fine season, averaging 18.5 points and nearly four assists per game. </p> <p>Others:  Chilton (3), Xavier (3)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SECTIONAL 3</strong></p> <p><strong>FAVORITES</strong></p> <p><strong>(3) Laconia (14-8)</strong></p> <p>Laconia has a terrific 1-2 punch in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/reed-gunnink/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/reed-gunnink/">Reed Gunnink</a></a> (17.6 ppg) and Caden Wittchow (15.3 ppg). A preseason top 10 team, the Spartans got off to a rough start, but seem to have turned things around, knocking off Flyaway Conference title champ Winnebago Lutheran recently. </p> <p><strong>(2) Edgerton (18-4)</strong></p> <p>They may have lost twice to top seed Turner, but Edgerton has closed the gap over the course of the season. The Crimson Tide even picked up a huge win over Rock Valley Conference champ  East Troy, who was ranked No. 2 in Division 3.  Surging at the right time, Edgerton has won nine of their last 10 games, with the one loss coming by just a point.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DARK HORSE</strong></p> <p><strong>(1) Turner (18-4)</strong></p> <p>The Trojans finished second in the Rock Valley Conference. Also surging down the stretch, Turner has won 13 of their last 14 games. Senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-majeed/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-majeed/">Jordan Majeed</a></a> (14.9 ppg) is one of the most lethal scorers in Division 3. His shot hasn't been as consistent as he would like this season, but if Majeed turns it on  in March...watch out.</p> <p><strong>(1) Waupun (14-8)</strong></p> <p>You almost never see a team that finished 6-8 in its own conference earn a 1-seed, but Waupun got the top seed by way of their non-conference schedule. The Warriors have wins over Laconia, Columbus, and Winnebago Lutheran to give them the nod.</p> <p>Others: Columbus (2), Lodi (3)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SECTIONAL 4</strong></p> <p><strong>FAVORITES</strong></p> <p><strong>(1) Dominican (19-3)</strong></p> <p>The Knights  only lost to one team from the state of Wisconsin (St. Catherine's) finishing second in the Metro Classic Conference.  Senior forward Alex  Antetokounmpo (20.0 ppg) is one of the more difficult matchups in the state.</p> <p><strong>(1) Racine St. Catherine's (22-0)</strong></p> <p>The Angles won the Metro Classic Conference title and swept the two-game series with Dominican.  St. Catherine's was dominant throughout the regular season, winning 19 of 21 games by double digits while hitting the 90-point mark on three separate occasions.  Junior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyrese-hunter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyrese-hunter/">Tyrese Hunter</a></a> has been unstoppable all season as well, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DARKHORSE</strong></p> <p><strong>(2) East Troy (20-2)</strong></p> <p>The Trojans won the Rock Valley Conference behind senior forward <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/a-j-vukovic/">A.J. Vukovic</a>h, who led them to state as a sophomore.  The Louisville baseball commit averaged a whopping 28.1 points and 13.1 rebounds per game this season. </p> <p><strong>(3) SJNMA  (17-5)</strong></p> <p>The Lancers may have the best duo in all of Division 3 in <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandin-podziemski/">Brandin Podziemski</a> (27.3 ppg) and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/gerald-gittens/">Gerald Gittens</a> (15.0 points, 7.6 assists per game. SJNMA has also gotten a breakout season from junior forward <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brennan-timm/">Brennan Timm</a> (15.8 points, 12.2 rebounds per game).  The Lancers won a very good Midwest Classic Conference, edging Lake Country Lutheran. </p> <p>Others: Kettle Moraine Lutheran (2),  Lake Country Lutheran (3), Lake Mills (4), Martin Luther (5)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PREDICTIONS</strong></p> <p><strong>SECTIONAL FINALS</strong></p> <p>(1) Prescott over  (2) Altoona</p> <p>(2) Oostburg over (2) Freedom</p> <p>(3) Laconia over (2) Edgerton</p> <p>(1) Racine St. Catherine's over (1) Dominican</p> <p><strong>STATE SEMIFINALS</strong></p> <p>(1) Racine St. Catherine's over (4) Laconia</p> <p>(2) Prescott over (3) Oostburg</p> <p><strong>STATE CHAMPIONSHIP</strong></p> <p>(1) Racine St. Catherine's over (2) Prescott</p>