WIAA State Tournament Preview: Division 3

<p><strong>MADISON -- </strong> The Division 3 state tournament semifinals kick off on Thursday from the Kohl Center. Who will bring home the gold ball? </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>1. WEST SALEM (26-1, 11-0)</strong></h5> <p><strong>Key Wins: </strong> Luther (2), Baldwin Woodville</p> <p><strong>Losses: </strong> Eau Claire Memorial </p> <p><strong>Conference Finish:  </strong>1st in Coulee</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED STARTERS</strong></p> <p>G Carson Koepnick (16.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) 6-1 Jr. </p> <p>G Jack Hehli (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) 6-2 Sr. </p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1160035" first="Tamarrein" last="Henderson"] 6-4 So. (9.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)</p> <p>F CJ McConkey (8.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) 6-1 Sr. </p> <p>F Peter Lattos (16.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg) 6-7 Jr.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why West Salem?</strong></p> <p>Balance and depth. The Panthers have seven players averaging at least eight points per game and seven different players who have started games this season. West Salem also has some really intriguing size for a Division 3 program, including the 6-foot-7 Lattos, who’s also knocked down 34 triples this season, and Henderson, who’s a high-upside, two-way wing at 6-foot-4.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>4. BRILLION (26-2, 12-2)</strong></h5> <p><strong>Key Wins:  </strong>Roncalli, Denmark, Freedom, Kiel (2), Kewaunee (2)</p> <p><strong>Losses:  </strong>Valders, Roncalli</p> <p><strong>Conference Finish: </strong>2nd in Eastern Wisconsin</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED STARTERS<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/20210327_133734-1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1164326" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/20210327_133734-1-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a></strong></p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1260993" first="Caeden" last="Holly"] (10.7 ppg. 2.8 rpg) 5-11 Jr.</p> <p>G Parker  Braun  (9.7 ppg, 3.4 apg) 6-2 Jr.</p> <p>F Mason Behnke (5.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg) 6-2 Sr.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1203243" first="Grady" last="Geiger"] (11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) 6-6 So.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1017916" first="Jeremy" last="Lorenz"]  (19.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg) 6-8 Jr.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why Brillion?</strong></p> <p>The Tigers can overwhelm teams with their 1-2 punch in the frontcourt. Lorenz, who owns a Division 1 scholarship offer from UW-Green Bay, is a long, versatile prospect that can score from all over the floor. Geiger is flirting with a top 50 spot in the class of 2024 right now. Brillion also has quality guard play with Holly and Braun, who dictate tempo and make high-IQ, winning plays.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>2. LAKE COUNTRY LUTHERAN (26-2. 15-0)</strong></h5> <p><strong>Key Wins: </strong> Waukesha South, Freedom, Columbus, Sheboygan Lutheran</p> <p><strong>Losses: </strong>Pewaukee, Catholic Memorial</p> <p><strong>Conference Finish: </strong>1st in Midwest Classic</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED STARTERS</strong></p> <p>G Sam Heicher (1.1 ppg,  2.7 apg) 5-10 Sr.</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="1267654" first="Noah" last="Howard"] (15.8 ppg, 1.5 apg) 6-0 Sr.</p> <p>G [player_tooltip player_id="761407" first="Luke" last="Haertle"] (22.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg) 6-4 Sr.</p> <p>F Sam Hans   (5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 6-3 So.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1383350" first="Ben" last="Lubbers"] (9.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) 6-6 Sr.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why Lake Country Lutheran?<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/20211211_1759090.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1346150" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/20211211_1759090-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a></strong></p> <p>The Lightning were in the state championship game last season and gave favorite Racine St. Catherine’s a run for their money. Although they’re expected to be without third-leading scorer John Nehls, who suffered an injury in the sectional semifinals, Lake Country Lutheran has a senior-laden lineup, led by the Wisconsin walk-on commit Haertle, who leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>3. ST. THOMAS MORE (25-3, 14-2)</strong></h5> <p><strong>Key Wins: </strong> Dominican (2), Big Foot, Kenosha St. Joseph</p> <p><strong>Losses: </strong>Dominican, Xavier, Kenosha St. Joseph</p> <p><strong>Conference </strong>Finish: 1st in Metro Classic</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PROJECTED STARTERS</strong></p> <p>G Evan Oleson (7.3 ppg,  2.6 apg)</p> <p>G Drew Reindl (14.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg) 6-0 Sr.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1142118" first="Amari" last="McCottry"] (23.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg) 6-5 So.</p> <p>F [player_tooltip player_id="1203602" first="Sekou" last="Konneh"] (12.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg) 6-7 So.</p> <p>F Isaiah Malison (5.6 rppg, 6.6 rpg) 6-8 Sr.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why St. Thomas More?<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/20210731_094658.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1255456" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/20210731_094658-300x155.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="155" /></a></strong></p> <p>This is the most talented lineup in the field. The Cavaliers are led by youth, but both Konneh and McCottry are Division 1 prospects. Both are long, athletic, high motor prospects that no team in Division 3, perhaps even the state, can simulate in practice. One of the most improved teams in the state, St. Thomas More went from 8-15 a year ago to 25-3 this season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>PREDICTIONS</strong></p> <p><strong>Semifinals</strong></p> <p>Brillion over West Salem</p> <p>Lake Country Lutheran over St. Thomas More</p> <p><strong>State Championship</strong></p> <p>Lake Country Lutheran over Brillion</p>