WIAA Playoff Preview: Division 1 Sectional 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The WIAA boy's basketball playoff brackets were revealed on Sunday. Here's a closer look at the field in Division 1 Sectional 1...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FAVORITES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) Eau Claire Memorial (18-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Old Abes have been a different team since starting 1-3. One of the biggest surprises in the state, Memorial has knocked off the likes of Sussex Hamilton, Marshfield, and La Crosse Central. Sophomore sniper [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'] (14.8 ppg) leads a balanced scoring attack that can attack you in a variety of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1481178"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3e7cf5aa86"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Hudson (17-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could easily have Hudson as the 1-seed in this region. Two of their losses came against teams from Minnesota and the Raiders also swept 1-seed Eau Claire Memorial. Hudson can outright clinch a quietly strong Big Rivers Conference title this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP CONTENDERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(3) Oshkosh North (15-8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A preseason top five team, the Spartans haven't met expectations, but continue to show flashes of being a very dangerous squad. North has won nine of its last 11 games, including a victory over Fox Valley Association champion Fond du Lac. In late December, the Spartans also took down potential D2 state champ Wisconsin Lutheran. Led by one of the best duos in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1089684' first='Stevie' last='Clark'] (23.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'] (22.3 ppg), North can overwhelm a lot of opponents in this sectional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1282617"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3e7cf5aafa"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(4) Hortonville (14-9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hortonville is below .500 in Fox Valley Association play, but they've taken down some big names this season. The Polar Bears own wins over Oshkosh North and Marquette to name a few. Pushing for first-team All-Conference honors, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1045804' first='August' last='Maurer'] is posting 19 points and six rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1045804"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3e7cf5ab43"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SLEEPER </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) Marshfield (17-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nobody wants to see the Tigers in March. Marshfield owns wins over Hudson and D.C. Everest (twice). Since Dec. 16, this group is 15-2, winning 13 consecutive games at point. A balanced, gritty group, the Tigers are two games up in the Wisconsin Valley Conference and are led by high-IQ sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1244808' first='Brooks' last='Hinson'] (16.1 ppg). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244808"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3e7cf5ab84"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PREDICTIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sectional Semifinals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(5) Marshfield over (1) Eau Claire Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Hudson over (3) Oshkosh North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sectional Final</em>s</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Hudson over (5) Marshfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->