WIAA State Tournament Preview: Division 2

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…   <h5>SECTIONAL 1</h5> THE FAVORITE - La Crosse Central (23-1)<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/20210508_172722.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1192988" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/20210508_172722-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 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 [player_tooltip player_id="990740" first="Devon" last="Fielding"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="1390114" first="T.J." last="Stuttley"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="988698" first="Josiah" last="Butler"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="1024439" first="Logan" last="Baumgartner"] - Medford [player_tooltip player_id="988698" first="Josiah" last="Butler"] - Fox Valley Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id="988962" first="C.J." last="Campbell"] - New Richmond [player_tooltip player_id="1089723" first="Dustin" last="Derousseau"] - Tomah [player_tooltip player_id="988983" first="Noah" last="Feddersen"] - Menomonie [player_tooltip player_id="990740" first="Devon" last="Fielding"] - La Crosse Central [player_tooltip player_id="1200574" first="Davin" last="Stoffel"] - Mosinee [player_tooltip player_id="1390114" first="T.J." last="Stuttley"] - Onalaska   <h5>SECTIONAL 2</h5> THE FAVORITE - Ashwaubenon (20-4)<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/20220128_204102-1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1375627" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/20220128_204102-1-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> 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 [player_tooltip player_id="865854" first="Marcus" last="Tomashek"] (25.6 ppg) and UW-Oshkosh commit [player_tooltip player_id="865851" first="Matt" last="Imig"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="1282617" first="Xzavion" last="Mitchell"] (21.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1089684" first="Stevie" last="Clark"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="1190379" first="Chris" last="Mitchell"] (15.1 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id="1043749" first="Emmett" last="Lawton"] (14.0 ppg). PLAYERS TO WATCH [player_tooltip player_id="1089684" first="Stevie" last="Clark"] - Oshkosh North [player_tooltip player_id="981202" first="Ethan" last="Heck"] - West De Pere [player_tooltip player_id="865851" first="Matt" last="Imig"] - Ashwaubenon [player_tooltip player_id="1043749" first="Emmett" last="Lawton"] - Notre Dame [player_tooltip player_id="1142122" first="Michael" last="McNabb"] - Grafton [player_tooltip player_id="1190379" first="Chris" last="Mitchell"] - Notre Dame [player_tooltip player_id="1282617" first="Xzavion" last="Mitchell"] - Oshkosh North [player_tooltip player_id="865841" first="Donovan" last="Sparks"] - Nicolet [player_tooltip player_id="865854" first="Marcus" last="Tomashek"] - Ashwaubenon [player_tooltip player_id="1017075" first="Jalen" last="Womack"] - Menasha   <h5>SECTIONAL 3</h5> 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<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Weisbrod.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1348076" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Weisbrod-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> winning streak going into March. Northern Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="727964" first="Jack" last="Rose"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="865836" first="Jack" last="Campion"] - Milton [player_tooltip player_id="1144570" first="Ty" last="Fernholz"] - Stoughton [player_tooltip player_id="1134927" first="Jordan" last="Hibner"] - Monona Grove [player_tooltip player_id="801151" first="Carson" last="Leuzinger"] - Monroe [player_tooltip player_id="1134928" first="Ryne" last="Panzer"] - Oregon [player_tooltip player_id="727964" first="Jack" last="Rose"] - Westosha Central [player_tooltip player_id="801147" first="J.T." last="Seagreaves"] - Monroe [player_tooltip player_id="801146" first="Max" last="Weisbrod"] - De Forest   <h5>SECTIONAL 4</h5> THE FAVORITE - Pewaukee (21-3)<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Kon.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1338525" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Kon-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a> 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. [player_tooltip player_id="1089682" first="Nick" last="Janowski"] (17.7 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="761419" first="Ashton" last="Janowski"] (16.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="953944" first="Milan" last="Momcilovic"] (16.5 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id="801168" first="Josh" last="Terrian"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="1142123" first="Kon" last="Knueppel"] (14.2 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1089725" first="Jordan" last="Glenn"] (13.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1012675" first="Jamiir" last="Allen"] (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 [player_tooltip player_id="950097" first="Learic" last="Davis"] - Bradley Tech [player_tooltip player_id="1089725" first="Jordan" last="Glenn"] - Wisconsin Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id="1021573" first="Colin" last="Hardrick"] - Wauwatosa West [player_tooltip player_id="1089682" first="Nick" last="Janowski"] - Pewaukee [player_tooltip player_id="1142142" first="Jaquan" last="Johnson"] - Pius XI [player_tooltip player_id="761417" first="Danilo" last="Jovanovich"] - Whitnall [player_tooltip player_id="1142123" first="Kon" last="Knueppel"] - Wisconsin Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id="953944" first="Milan" last="Momcilovic"] - Pewaukee [player_tooltip player_id="1089729" first="John" last="Pitta"] - 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