State Tournament Preview: Division 1

MADISON -- A closer look at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, which tips Friday at the Kohl Center...     (1) Arrowhead (26-2) vs. (4) Neenah (21-7)   Arrowhead already exorcised one demon, upsetting De Pere in the sectional semifinals to reach state. Now, the Warhawks look to come home with the gold ball after falling short in last season's title game versus the Redbirds.   The Classic Eight champs are led by Green Bay commit [player_tooltip player_id='1142119' first='Bennett' last='Basich'] (20.4 ppg), who put together one of the best individual performances of the season to get Arrowhead to this point, scoring 43 points versus the defending champs. Keep an eye on senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1364523' first='Jace' last='Gilbert'] (17.1 ppg), an Iowa State football commit, who changes games for the Warhawks on both ends of the floor.   As improbable as it felt at the beginning of the season, Neenah (21-7) is back at the Kohl Center for the third straight year. The Rockets have ripped off 13 consecutive wins after starting the season 4-6.   St. Leo commit [player_tooltip player_id='1203253' first='Brady' last='Corso'] (21.7 ppg) is the straw that stirs the drink for Neenah, but the Rockets can quietly get production from a lot of different places.    (2) Marquette (24-4) vs. (3) Kettle Moraine (25-3)   Speaking of improbable returns to the Kohl Center, Kettle Moraine is back for the second consecutive season despite playing without last season's leading scorer and implementing a new head coach. St. Norbert commit [player_tooltip player_id='2350015' first='Will' last='Stuckey'] (17.4 ppg) has taken the reins for the Lasers, who finished second in the Classic Eight Conference and are riding a 12-game winning streak, including a victory over top-seed Arrowhead.   A preseason favorite, Marquette won the always loaded Greater Metro Conference by two games. The Hilltoppers were March ready after a loaded schedule that featured De Pere, Arrowhead, Pewaukee, and Homestead. St. Thomas commit Nolan Minessalle (21.7 ppg) is arguably the most exciting athlete in the state and Marquette will surround him with deadly snipers.    PREDICTIONS   Semifinals   (1) Arrowhead over (4) Neenah   It was a good run for the Rockets, but they're going to be outgunned with Basich and Gilbert. Think Arrowhead's role players are also starting to emerge, giving them a much deeper squad. There's also a difference in mentality here. The Warhawks have fought their way to get back and take care of unfinished business.   (2) Marqette over (3) Kettle Moraine   Wouldn't be surprised if this one is closer than people think or if there's an upset. The Lasers can really buck up defensively and take away your bread and butter. Marquette survives a scare thanks to their outside shooting weapons of [player_tooltip player_id='1418518' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1887198' first='Ryan' last='Meehan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1203206' first='T.J.' last='Adams'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2315579' first='Cade' last='Kohnen'].   State Championship   (1) Arrowhead over (2) Marquette   These two teams played a classic at the Al McGuire Center in February. Frankly, Arrowhead was lucky to get a win, getting a buzzer beater on somewhat of a fluke play. However, the game was very contested and back and forth the entire way. Both teams deserved a win that day.   I'm going to take the Warhawks in the rematch. Seeing the first meeting live, Arrowhead found something with Gilbert. Marquette doesn't play a true big and the 6-foot-6 senior is just too much of a load.   If the stars cancel each other out, the Hilltoppers probably have the deeper roster, but experience in these settings can be vital.

MADISON -- A closer look at the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, which tips Friday at the Kohl Center...

(1) Arrowhead (26-2) vs. (4) Neenah (21-7)

Arrowhead already exorcised one demon, upsetting De Pere in the sectional semifinals to reach state. Now, the Warhawks look to come home with the gold ball after falling short in last season's title game versus the Redbirds.

The Classic Eight champs are led by Green Bay commit Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (20.4 ppg), who put together one of the best individual performances of the season to get Arrowhead to this point, scoring 43 points versus the defending champs. Keep an eye on senior forward Jace Gilbert Jace Gilbert 6'5" | PF Arrowhead | 2024 State WI (17.1 ppg), an Iowa State football commit, who changes games for the Warhawks on both ends of the floor.

As improbable as it felt at the beginning of the season, Neenah (21-7) is back at the Kohl Center for the third straight year. The Rockets have ripped off 13 consecutive wins after starting the season 4-6.

St. Leo commit Brady Corso Brady Corso 6'2" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI (21.7 ppg) is the straw that stirs the drink for Neenah, but the Rockets can quietly get production from a lot of different places.

Brady Corso

HEIGHT 6'2"

POS SG

CLASS 2024

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Brady Corso

State: Wisconsin

School: Neenah

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(2) Marquette (24-4) vs. (3) Kettle Moraine (25-3)

Speaking of improbable returns to the Kohl Center, Kettle Moraine is back for the second consecutive season despite playing without last season's leading scorer and implementing a new head coach. St. Norbert commit Will Stuckey Will Stuckey 6'1" | SG Kettle Moraine | 2024 State WI (17.4 ppg) has taken the reins for the Lasers, who finished second in the Classic Eight Conference and are riding a 12-game winning streak, including a victory over top-seed Arrowhead.

A preseason favorite, Marquette won the always loaded Greater Metro Conference by two games. The Hilltoppers were March ready after a loaded schedule that featured De Pere, Arrowhead, Pewaukee, and Homestead. St. Thomas commit Nolan Minessalle (21.7 ppg) is arguably the most exciting athlete in the state and Marquette will surround him with deadly snipers.

Nolan Minessale

HEIGHT 6'5"

POS SF

CLASS 2024

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Nolan Minessale

State: Wisconsin

School: Marquette

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Highlights

PREDICTIONS

Semifinals

(1) Arrowhead over (4) Neenah

It was a good run for the Rockets, but they're going to be outgunned with Basich and Gilbert. Think Arrowhead's role players are also starting to emerge, giving them a much deeper squad. There's also a difference in mentality here. The Warhawks have fought their way to get back and take care of unfinished business.

(2) Marqette over (3) Kettle Moraine

Wouldn't be surprised if this one is closer than people think or if there's an upset. The Lasers can really buck up defensively and take away your bread and butter. Marquette survives a scare thanks to their outside shooting weapons of Jeremiah Johnson Jeremiah Johnson 6'3" | SG Bullis | 2025 State MD , Ryan Meehan Ryan Meehan 6'2" | SG Marquette | 2024 State WI , T.J. Adams T.J. Adams 6'2" | CG Marquette | 2024 State WI , and Cade Kohnen Cade Kohnen 6'4" | SF Marquette | 2024 State WI .

State Championship

(1) Arrowhead over (2) Marquette

These two teams played a classic at the Al McGuire Center in February. Frankly, Arrowhead was lucky to get a win, getting a buzzer beater on somewhat of a fluke play. However, the game was very contested and back and forth the entire way. Both teams deserved a win that day.

I'm going to take the Warhawks in the rematch. Seeing the first meeting live, Arrowhead found something with Gilbert. Marquette doesn't play a true big and the 6-foot-6 senior is just too much of a load.

If the stars cancel each other out, the Hilltoppers probably have the deeper roster, but experience in these settings can be vital.