State Tournament Preview: Division 2

MADISON —  The Division 2 state tournament will tip-off on Friday, beginning with semifinal action. Who will take home the gold ball? Prep Hoops Wisconsin previews the weekend ahead at the Kohl Center…

1.  PEWAUKEE (25-3, 11-1)

Key Wins: Wisconsin Lutheran (2), Menomonee Falls, Westosha Central, Lake Country Lutheran

Losses:  Wisconsin Lutheran, Neenah, De Pere

Conference Finish: 1st in Woodland West

PROJECTED STARTERS

G Ashton Janowski Ashton Janowski 6'2" | CG Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (15.8 ppg,  2.5 apg)

G Kollen Osterman (2.9 ppg, .9 rpg) 6-3 Jr.

G Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | CG Pewaukee | 2024 State #71 Nation WI (16.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) 6-4 So.

G Josh Terrian Josh Terrian 6'3" | SF Pewaukee | 2022 State WI (10.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) 6-5 Sr.

F Milan Momcilovic Milan Momcilovic 6'8" | SF Pewaukee | 2023 State #44 Nation WI (18.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg) 6-8 Jr.

Why Pewaukee?

This is a well-oiled machine. Everyone on the floor is a threat. The Pirates have played a ton of  basketball together and are so in-tune with one another. Defensively, you just have to hope the likes the Janowski brothers, Terrian, Momcilovic just miss, because Pewuakee is going to move the ball exceptionally well and create something high percentage more often than not. After suffering a few surprisingl losses early in the season, the Pirates have woken up like a sleeping giant, winning their last 13 games by double digits.

4. ASHWAUBENON (24-4, 14-4)

Key Wins:  Bay Port (2), De Pere, Notre Dame, Oshkosh North

Losses: Notre Dame, Manitowoc Lincoln, Sheboygan North, De Pere

Conference Finish: 3rd in Fox River Classic

PROJECTED STARTERS

G Matt Imig Matt Imig 6'0" | CG Ashwaubenon | 2022 State WI (15.2 ppg, 4.4 apg) 6-1 Sr.

G Marcus Tomashek Marcus Tomashek 6'4" | SG Ashwaubenon | 2022 State WI (24.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg)  6-5 Sr.

 F Jayden Schoen (6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg) 6-2 So.

F Zach Kelly  (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) 6-4 Jr.

F Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 6'6" | C Ashwaubenon | 2022 WI   (1.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) 6-6 Sr.

Why Ashwaubenon?

The Jaguars have a terrific guard duo in Imig and Tomashek. This pair of seniors can shoot the 3-ball at an extremely high level and also have great chemistry, able to create for one another. Both are shooting above 40 percent from distance this season. If they get hot, all bets are off.

2. LA CROSSE CENTRAL (27-1, 12-0)

Key Wins:  Onalaska (3), DeForest, Medford

Losses: Benilde St. Margarets (MN) 

Conference Finish:  1st in Mississippi Valley

PROJECTED STARTERS

G Devon Fielding Devon Fielding 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2022 State WI (14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) 6-2 Sr.

G Nic Williams Nic Williams 6'1" | PG La Crosse Central | 2023 State WI (9.0 ppg, 3.4 apg) 6-1 Jr.

G Colin Adams (9.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg) 6-5 Sr.

G Noah Compan Noah Compan 6'5" | SF La Crosse Central | 2022 State WI (12.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) 6-5 Sr.

F Porter Pretasky (8.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) 6-5 Sr.

Why La Crosse Central?

This is a balanced lineup with a multitude of players willing and able to step up and take the big shot. The River Hawks are also a very methodical team that controls the tempo and makes its opponents defend for long periods of time. Central also plays very well in close games. Have seen them first hand against La Follette, DeForest, and Onalaska be able to tune out the noise and close out games in crunch time.

3. WESTOSHA CENTRAL (25-2, 14-0)

Key Wins:  Milton (2), Kenosha St. Joseph 

Losses:  Pewaukee, Racine Case

Conference Finish: 1st in Southern Lakes

PROJECTED STARTERS

G Devin Griffin Devin Griffin 5'11" | PG Westosha Central | 2022 State WI (9.1 ppg, 3.2 apg)

G Kenny Garth Kenny Garth 6'2" | CG Westosha Central | 2022 State WI (11.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

G Jack Rose Jack Rose 6'4" | SG Westosha Central | 2022 State #213 Nation WI (20.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg)

F Michael Mulhollon  (5.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

F Wyatt Anderson Wyatt Anderson 6'5" | PF Westosha Central | 2023 WI (7.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg)

Why Westosha Central?

The Falcons might be playing their best ball of the year. Since a blowout loss to Pewaukee, Central has ripped off 16-straight wins and has rolled through the playoffs thus far. They’ve got seniors in Rose, Garth, and Griffin who have a sense of urgency as they now reach the end of the line. Rose, one of the top unsigned seniors in the state, has state tournament experience as well, playing against a loaded Nicolet team as a freshman. 

PREDICTIONS

Semifinals

Pewaukee over Ashwaubenon

La Crosse Central over Westosha Central

State Championship

Pewaukee over La Crosse Central