Thursday’s Sectional Semifinal Games to Watch

The WIAA playoffs continue with sectional semifinal action across the state on Thursday. Here are the top four games worth monitoring…

(1) Westosha Central vs. (2) Whitnall – At Wilmot

This one very well could decide who heads to the state tournament. Westosha Central and Whitnall are a pair of top five ranked teams who both had surprising seasons to win their respective leagues.

Central is very reliant on sophomore guard Elijah Griffin Elijah Griffin 6'1" | PG Westosha Central | 2025 State WI , who’s somehow managed to take what was supposed to be a rebuilding year and turn it into a 23-2 campaign. Griffin is posting 14 points and 7.4 assists per game.

Whitnall is going to counter with terrific guard play as well. At 22-3 overall, sophomore Jack Lutz Jack Lutz 6'0" | SG Whitnall | 2025 State WI (17.2 ppg), senior Austin Herro Austin Herro 6'2" | CG Whitnall | 2023 State WI (15.4 ppg), and Myles Herro Myles Herro 6'2" | PG Whitnall | 2025 State WI (3.5 apg) have quietly been one of the best backcourts in the state.

(1) Racine St. Catherine’s vs. (2) St. Thomas More – At Greenfield

If you like points, this is the game for you.

St. Cat’s has been maybe the biggest surprise in the state this season. After going 18-10 last season, the Angels have turned that into a 25-1 campaign and a Metro Classic Conference title in 2022-23. This group might not have any stars, but they play together, get contributions from everywhere, and do it the right way.

St. Thomas More does have stars. In fact, they’ve got a pair of Division 1 frontcourt players in junior Amari McCottry Amari McCottry 6'5" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #207 Nation WI (23.3 ppg) and Sekou Konneh Sekou Konneh 6'6" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #244 Nation WI (16.5 ppg).

These two teams met twice this season with St. Cat’s sweeping the regular season series. However, the most recent matchup with a 61-59 nail-biter.

(1) Columbus vs. (2) Lakeside Lutheran – At Portage

Both teams earned a share of the Capitol North Conference title and now they’ll settle it in March.

At 19-6 overall, Columbus won the most recent meeting 49-46 on Feb. 3. Senior guard A.J. Uttech leads the way at 21.8 ppg, but the Cardinals are much more than a one-man show featuring a variety of role players who bring different elements to the table. Columbus has won its last eight games heading into Thursday.

Looking to cap off his terrific career, senior wing Levi Birkholz Levi Birkholz 6'2" | SG Lakeside Lutheran | 2023 State #290 Nation WI (21.8 ppg) leads Lakeside Lutheran into this matchup. At 23-3 overall, are also riding an eight-game winning streak.

(6) Milwaukee Hamilton vs. (2) Middleton – At Sun Prairie East

A potential upset here in Division 1. Is this a trap game for Middleton, who might get caught looking ahead to a showdown with top seed Arrowhead in what would be a playoff rematch from last season? It’s also a clash of styles with the run n’ gun Wildcats versus a methodical Cardinal squad.

At 20-6 overall, Hamilton has scored 80 or more points in 17 games this season, including seven games in which they’ve exceeded 100 points. The Milwaukee City Conference runner-ups have a terrific trio in Bradley commit Demarion Burch Demarion Burch 6'4" | SG Milwaukee Hamilton | 2023 State WI (27.4 ppg), senior center Simeon Murchison Simeon Murchison 6'8" | PF Milwaukee Hamilton | 2023 State WI (19.6 ppg), and junior guard Ky’Moni Hunt (16.4 ppg.).

The Big Eight Conference champs, Middleton went 25-1. The Cardinals have shown the ability to win a lot of close games and make the key plays late. Winona State commit Gavyn Hurley Gavyn Hurley 6'4" | CG Middleton | 2023 State WI (19. 5ppg) is the straw that stirs the drink, dabbling in all areas of the game and creating matchup problems as a 6-foot-4 point guard.