WIAA Playoff Preview: Division 1 Sectional 3
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The WIAA boy’s basketball playoff brackets were revealed on Sunday. Here’s a closer look at the field in Division 1 Sectional 3… THE FAVORITES (1) Arrowhead At 21-2 overall, the Warhawks won the Classic Eight Conference by three games. Arrowhead…
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Continue ReadingThe WIAA boy’s basketball playoff brackets were revealed on Sunday. Here’s a closer look at the field in Division 1 Sectional 3…
THE FAVORITES
(1) Arrowhead
At 21-2 overall, the Warhawks won the Classic Eight Conference by three games. Arrowhead features one of the best trios in the state — UW-Green Bay commit Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI (16.9 ppg), senior guard Austin Villareal Austin Villareal 6'1" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State WI (18.6 ppg), and junior guard Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (16.3 ppg). Considered one of the top two teams in Division 1 heading into the season, the Warhawks have shown little if any signs of being anything but that. If there’s any team that can match up and take down undefeated De Pere, many people think this is it.
(2) Middleton
Granted Arrowhead was dealing a key injury, but keep in mind these two teams met in the playoffs last season with Middleton running away with a road win. The Cardinals won the Big Eight Conference by three games with just one hiccup along the way during a 21-1 season. Winona State commit Gavyn Hurley Gavyn Hurley 6'4" | CG Middleton | 2023 State WI (19.0 ppg) leads a deep and talented group that plays hard on both ends have various pieces that can cause problems.
TOP CONTENDERS
(5) Sussex Hamilton
The Chargers have been one of the hottest teams in the state during the second half of the season. Take the computers away and let the coaches vote, Hamilton is probably the 3-seed in this region with an overall record of 18-5 and wins over Wauwatosa West, Marquette, Pius XI, and Milwaukee Hamilton. Interested to see what senior guard Luther Smith Luther Smith 6'1" | SG Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State WI (27.2 ppg) has in store for his encore.
(7) Brookfield Central
The Lancers have been fading a bit over the last month, but still feature a dangerous squad. Junior forward Jack Daugherty Jack Daugherty 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2024 State #311 Nation WI (17.9 ppg) leads a 15-8 squad that’s very battle-tested, not only having gone through the grind of the Greater Metro Conference, but games against Wisconsin Lutheran, Franklin, and Neenah. If role players such as Drew Edmond Drew Edmond 6'0" | PG Brookfield Central | 2023 State WI (6.6 ppg), Anthony Rise Anthony Rise 6'0" | CG Brookfield Central | 2025 State WI (13.1 ppg), and Charlie Geske Charlie Geske 6'4" | SF Brookfield Central | 2024 State WI (15.0 ppg) play well, Central is capable of another run.
DARK HORSE
(8) Madison La Follette
The Lancers are about as scary as an 8-seed gets. On paper, their roster is closer to a 3-seed. La Follette also took down Big Eight champion and 2-seed Middleton earlier this season. If senior guard and Augustana commit Arhman Lewis Arhman Lewis 5'9" | PG Madiosn Laffollette | 2023 State WI (18.6 ppg) is healthy, the Lancers are capable of getting to Madison. Mason Kleinsmith Mason Kleinsmith 5'9" | PG Madison LaFollette | 2023 State WI (14.5 ppg), Quinton Lomack Quinton Lomack 6'1" | CG Madison La Follette | 2024 WI (14.2 ppg), Reak Riak Reak Riak 6'7" | PF Madison La Follette | 2023 State WI (10.8 ppg), and Thian Riak Thian Riak 6'4" | SF Madison Lafollete | 2026 State WI (10.2 ppg) are capable of leading this team in scoring on any given night.
PREDICTIONS
Sectional Semifinals
(1) Arrowhead over (5) Sussex Hamilton
(2) Middleton over (6) Milwaukee Hamilton
Sectional Finals
(1) Arrowhead over (2) Middleton