Tuesday’s Regional Playoff Games to Watch
In this article:
Three key games to watch during Tuesday’s WIAA boys basketball regional semifinal action…
South Milwaukee (7-13) at West Allis Central (12-8)
Really good test for stellar sophomore Jake Dunham. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging just shy of 17 points per game and looks to help South Milwaukee end a five-game skid.
He’ll have his hands full with Central, who features a terrific trio of
Jaqunis Rhodes
Jaqunis
Rhodes
5'10" | PG
West Allis Central | 2021
State
WI
,
Najashi Tolefree
Najashi
Tolefree
6'6" | SF
West Allis Central | 2022
State
WI
, and
Greyson Pritzl
Greyson
Pritzl
6'3" | SG
West Allis Central | 2022
State
WI
. The Bulldogs won both meetings in this series earlier this month.
West De Pere (14-8) at Appleton East (9-13)
Sneaky good game here. West De Pere is arguably the strongest 5-seed in the state and has a lot of potential to go deep in the playoffs. The Phantoms finished second in a very good Bay Conference and have won four-straight, including a big win over De Pere. Senior forward Dawson Nordgaard Dawson Nordgaard 6'9" | PF West De Pere | 2021 State WI leads WDP at 16.4. ppg.
One of those teams that’s better than its record, Appleton East won seven games in a loaded Fox Valley Association. The Patriots have four players averaging in double figures, including their junior backcourt of
Zach Steigenberger
Zach
Steigenberger
6'0" | CG
Appleton East | 2022
State
WI
and
Tyler Borowski
Tyler
Borowski
6'2" | PG
Appleton East | 2022
State
WI
.
Monona Grove (3-7) at Janesville Craig (9-14)
A handful of underrated guards will square off in this one. These two teams met on Feb. 8 with Craig taking a 78-72 win.
MG is just 3-7, but didn’t start their season until mid-January and are coming off a potential turning point win where they handled Mount Horeb 68-37. Senior guard Lance Nelson Lance Nelson 6'0" | PG Monona Grove | 2021 State WI is averaging over 18 points per game this season and dropped 31 in the first meeting. The Silver Eagles have played the likes of Monroe, River Falle, East Troy, and Burlington tough, falling just short.
Angelo Rizzo
Angelo
Rizzo
6'3" | SG
Janesville Craig | 2021
State
WI
is having a big senior season for the Cougars, averaging over 21 points per game. He had 26 when these two teams on Feb. 8. If Craig can get consistent point guard play from junior
Marshaun Harriel
Marshaun
Harriel
5'11" | PG
Janesville Craig | 2022
WI
, they could be a threat going forward.
