State Tournament Preview: Division 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MADISON, Wis. -- </strong>Who will take home the gold ball in Division 3? Prep Hoops Wisconsin takes a closer look at the four finalists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 1 WEST SALEM vs. NO. 4 MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE</strong> <strong>- 1:35 P.M.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Salem has been the favorite all year since reaching the state title game in 2021-22. However, this could be a very difficult test against a MAS squad that's peaking right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Novas, top to bottom, have more talent than anyone in this field. It's just very young. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1390441' first='Devin' last='Brown'] (21.7 ppg) and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'] (20.6 ppg) lead a deep, talented, and athletic lineup. MAS can play 36 minutes of organized chaos as well, picking up full court and just wearing teams down. The Novas are 18-6 overall, played a loaded schedule, and head to Madison having won 13 of their last 14 with the lone loss coming to D2 favorites Pewaukee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers are 27-1, including 26-0 against Wisconsin foes. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1409365' first='Carson' last='Koepnick'] (15.3 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1409364' first='Peter' last='Lattos'] (14.6 ppg) lead an experienced, unselfish group that has unfinished business. The x-factor, junior Tamarrien Henderson (10.2 ppg) is a two-way player that might be the team's best prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 BRILLION vs. NO. 3 LAKESIDE LUTHERAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of unfinished business, Brillion was a state qualifier last season as well, falling to West Salem in the semifinals. For most of the season, the Tigers were neck and neck with the Panthers for the No. 1 spot in Division 3, going 27-1 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wofford commit [player_tooltip player_id='1017916' first='Jeremy' last='Lorenz'] (21.1 ppg) is the best player and toughest matchup in this field. The 6-foot-8 forward is a versatile prospect who can step away and shoot the ball or handle it on the perimeter. Brillion has some good depth too in the form of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1203243' first='Grady' last='Geiger'] (11.9 ppg), senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1260993' first='Caeden' last='Holly'] (9.4 ppg), and senior guard Parker Braun (9.1 ppg) who were all big parts of last season's squad as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Lakeside Lutheran is going to pull off this upset, they're going to need [player_tooltip player_id='981201' first='Levi' last='Birkholz'] to be special. The Citadel commit has unique leaping ability and heads to the Kohl Center averaging 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game -- all team highs. The Spartans, who went 25-3 thus far, got 20 points or more from Birkholz in all four playoff wins, including a 41-point effort in the sectional finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PREDICTIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Semifinals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) West Salem over (4) Milwaukee Academy of Science</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(2) Brillion over (3) Lakeside Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>State Championship</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(1) West Salem over (2) Brillion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->