State Tournament Preview: Division 1
In this article:
MADISON, Wis. — The WIAA Division 1 State Tournament kicks off on Friday at the Kohl Center. Here’s a closer look at the four finalists that will clash in Madison… No. 1 DE PERE (28-0) vs. No. 4 KETTLE MORAINE…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMADISON, Wis. — The WIAA Division 1 State Tournament kicks off on Friday at the Kohl Center. Here’s a closer look at the four finalists that will clash in Madison…
No. 1 DE PERE (28-0) vs. No. 4 KETTLE MORAINE (18-10) – Friday 6:35 p.m.
Everyone expected De Pere to be here. Kettle Moraine? Not so much.
The Lasers, led by first-year head coach Trevon Hughes, went 18-10 overall, improving from a 14-12 mark a year ago. Although KM finished fourth in the Classic Eight, the Lasers were just one of two teams to beat fellow state qualifier Arrowhead this season, and cooled off a red-hot Franklin squad in the sectional finals.
Junior guard Drew Wagner Drew Wagner 5'7" | PG Kettle Moraine | 2024 WI , also a standout football prospect, leads the way at 18.4 points per game. When he scores 20 or more points, KM is 9-2 this season.
For the Redbirds, just pick your poison. They’ve got a deep roster that’s played a ton of basketball together and somewhat mimics last season’s Division 2 state title team, Pewaukee. Illinois State commit John Kinziger John Kinziger 6'0" | CG De Pere | 2023 State #257 Nation WI (18.8 ppg), junior forward Will Hornseth Will Hornseth 6'8" | PF De Pere | 2024 State #208 Nation WI (16.8 ppg), and sophomore guard Zach Kinziger Zach Kinziger 6'3" | SG De Pere | 2025 State #127 Nation WI (15.5 ppg) are all Division 1 prospects. Senior guard Hogan Demovsky Hogan Demovsky 6'2" | CG De Pere | 2023 State WI (5.6 ppg) and junior forward Ben Willihnganz Ben Willihnganz 6'7" | PF De Pere | 2024 State WI (5.7 ppg) are also talented role players that could be stars on other teams.
Very few teams have even come close to beating De Pere this season. Of their 28 games, the Redbirds have played just two that came down to single digits.
No. 2 ARROWHEAD (26-2) vs. No. 3 NEENAH (18-10) – Friday 8:15 p.m.
The reigning Division 1 state champions are back in Madison. While they have the experience, it’s a huge hill to climb against an Arrowhead squad that most feel is the only team in D1 capable of taking down De Pere.
They got a lot of help in what was a wild sectional filled with upsets, but the Rockets head to Madison with an 18-10 overall record and have won seven of their last nine games. UW-Green Bay commit Cal Klesmit Cal Klesmit 6'2" | CG Neenah | 2023 State #235 Nation WI , who missed all of his junior season due to a torn ACL, put up 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists during his senior season. His running mate, junior guard Brady Corso Brady Corso 6'2" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI , has starred as well, averaging 16 points per game.
The Classic Eight Conference champs, the Warhawks haven’t lost since early February. Arrowhead had a relatively tricky road to Madison, having to go through sleepers such as Madison La Follette, Brookfield East, and Milwaukee Hamilton who were all under-seeded for various reasons. Regardless, Arrowhead still won all three by at least 19 points.
When you think of the Warhawks, you think of UW-Green Bay commit Mac Wrecke Mac Wrecke 6'5" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State #272 Nation WI (18.0 ppg), and rightfully so. However, there are so many parts to this squad, including senior guard Austin Villareal Austin Villareal 6'1" | SG Arrowhead | 2023 State WI (17.9 ppg), junior guard Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (16.0 ppg), and Iowa State football commit Jace Gilbert Jace Gilbert 6'5" | PF Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (11.1 ppg).
PREDICTIONS
Semifinals
(1) De Pere over (4) Kettle Moraine
(2) Arrowhead over (3) Neenah
State Championship
(1) De Pere over (2) Arrowhead