WIAA Division 3 Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 10 days left in the regular season and seeds coming out Sunday for the WIAA playoffs, here is a quick look at things to watch for in Division 3.<br><br><strong>SECTIONAL 1<br><br>Top Teams (Upper Half)</strong><br>Amery (15-6)<br>Northwestern (14-7)<br>Osceola (12-7)<br>Prescott (14-7)<br><br><strong>Top Teams (Lower Half)</strong><br>Bloomer (15-4)<br>Elk Mound (17-4)<br>Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (13-8)<br><br><strong>Don't Be Surprised If ...</strong><br><br>Multiple conferences advance to the sectional level. Twenty-four teams compete in Sectional 1 and the field is extremely balanced. It also includes teams from seven different conferences, and many of those teams continue to battle for league championships. There is no dominant team, indeed no team in Sectional 1 is ranked among the Top 10 in Division 3 in the state coach's poll. But there are plenty of competitive squads. Selecting a winner is anybody's guess, but Prescott always looms as a serious contender as the Cardinals have qualified for the WIAA State Tournament four times in the past decade. <br><strong><br>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br>Elk Mound. It its final season in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, the Mounders trail Spring Valley and Durand-Arkansaw by two games in the league standings with just two conference outings left. Still, Elk Mound has proven it can compete with the teams in the Middle Border Conference by posting non-league wins over Altoona, Baldwin-Woodville and St. Croix Central. Coach Dennis Arneson's squad also owns wins over both Fall Creek and Stanley-Boyd, future rivals when the Mounders move to the Cloverbelt West Conference for 2025-26. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'] (6-5) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1554804' first='Cale' last='Knutson'] (5-11) give the Mounders a solid inside/outside tandem with Jerome averaging 17.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg and Knutson pitching in 13.8 ppg and 2.2 apg. <strong><br><br>All-Sectional Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1540033' first='Carter' last='Wollan'], 6-3, Sr., Amery<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874982' first='Kane' last='Donnelly'], 6-4, Sr., Somerset<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2143926' first='Keaton' last='Wollan'], 6-3, Soph., Amery<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432837' first='Boden' last='Teal'], 5-10, Sr., Northwestern<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561902' first='Mason' last='Brone'], 6-3, Jr., Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau<strong><br><br>Second Team</strong><br>Graysen Becker, 6-2, Soph., Altoona<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406622' first='Caleb' last='Irlbeck'], 6-4, Jr., Osceola<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2411648' first='Charlie' last='Hoel'], 6-7, Soph., Stanley-Boyd<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2623254' first='Zeke' last='Strand'], 6-4, Sr., Bloomer<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'], 6-4, Sr., Berlin<br><br><strong>SECTIONAL 2<br><br>The Favorites (Top Half)</strong><br>Freedom (20-1)<br>Seymour (15-6)<br>Wittenberg-Birnamwood (16-5)<br><br><strong>The Favorites (Bottom Half)</strong><br>Kiel (17-5)<br>Laconia (18-3)<br>Little Chute (16-6)<br>Xavier (17-5)<br><br><strong>Don't Be Surprised If ...</strong><br><br>Freedom runs roughshod over the competition in Sectional 2. The Irish are led by a high-major collegiate prospect in talented 6-foot-8 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis'], who owns offers from both Iowa State and Wisconsin and is picking up strong interest from a number of other programs, including Marquette. Davis can hurt opponents near the basket, with his court vision and passing skill, and with his perimeter shooting. He is averaging 23.1 points and 12.1 rebounds for coach Andrew Gibbons' squad. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2492814' first='Drew' last='Kortz'] (6-1) is another quality performer for Freedom and is averaging 19.5 ppg and 3.9 apg. Outside of Milwaukee Academy of Science, Freedom is the highest ranked team in the state in the Prep Hoops Wisconsin Power Rankings. It's lone loss came to North Shore Conference champion and Division 2 power Slinger at the Rick Majerus WBY Shootout in December. Freedom also owns a victory over Slinger in the first game of the season.<strong><br><br>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br>Winnebago Lutheran. The Vikings have played a tough schedule both inside and outside of the Wisconsin Flyway Conference under first-year coach Mason DeNoyer. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2493633' first='Gannan' last='Schwartz'] (5-10) is a jet with the ball and is a dynamic play making who constantly puts pressure on the defense with his speed, ball handling, scoring and passing abilities. He is averaging 22.6 points and 4.5 assists and played huge roles when Winnebago Lutheran upset Flyway title contenders Laconia and Saint Mary's Springs. <strong><br><br>All-Sectional Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1847792' first='Donovan' last='Davis'], 6-8, Soph., Freedom<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2434543' first='Logan' last='Ramczyk'], 6-2, Soph., Xavier<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561935' first='Cash' last='Farrell'], 6-3, Jr., Laconia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1598984' first='Nolan' last='Jakubek'], 6-6, Sr., Little Chute<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391083' first='Kyler' last='Marks'], 6-4, Jr., Seymour<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2492814' first='Drew' last='Kortz'], 6-1, Sr., Freedom<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2625871' first='Ethan' last='Pinno'], 6-3, Sr., Laconia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386279' first='Jett' last='Rogowski'], 6-0, Sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1598947' first='Braden' last='Aprill'], 6-2, Sr., Kiel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2398588' first='Luke' last='Oelhafen'], 6-3, Sr., Xavier<br><br><strong>SECTIONAL 3<br><br>The Favorites (Top Half)</strong><br>Lodi (15-6)<br>Platteville (15-7)<br>Wisconsin Dells (17-4)<br><br><strong>The Favorites (Bottom Half)</strong><br>Edgerton (18-3)<br>Lake Country Lutheran (20-2)<br>Lake Mills (18-4)<br>Lakeside Lutheran (13-7)<br><br><strong>Don't Be Surprised If ...</strong><br><br>Lodi comes out of the top half of the bracket. The Blue Devils have six losses, but make no mistake, this is a talented team with a tremendously competitive and skilled backcourt duo in junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'] and sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'] (6-1). Among the Blue Devils' six losses -- one-point decisions to both Lake Mills and Wisconsin Dells, a double overtime setback to Dominican and a three-point loss to Cambridge. There also have been some solid wins, including Lakeside Lutheran and Marshall. Lodi will run into stiff competition in the upper half of the bracket, but the Blue Devils appear poised to challenge any team that comes their way.<strong><br><br>Sleeper Team<br></strong><br>Waupun. First the big wins. Waupun has defeated Saint Mary's Springs, Plymouth, Wisconsin Dells, Winnebago Lutheran and Kettle Moraine Lutheran, among others. Impressive to say the least. On the hand, Waupun has sustained losses against some of the better teams in the state, including Ashwaubenon, Homestead, Laconia, Plymouth, Stoughton, Wauwatosa West and Madison Memorial. What does it all mean? This club is more than capable of beating any team in Sectional 3 as coach Alex Dunlap put together an incredibly challenging schedule, one that has prepared the Warriors for different playing styles along with defending talented individual players. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'] is a difference maker in most games and could lead Waupun to a deep postseason run. <br><strong><br>All-Sectional Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'], 6-3, Sr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], 6-8, Jr., Lakeside Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1544740' first='Aiden' last='Hawkinson'], 6-2, Sr., Waupun<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'], 6-2, Jr., Lodi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1729222' first='Olin' last='Zellmer'], 6-0, Sr., Edgerton<strong><br><br>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'], 6-2, Jr., Columbus<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], 5-11, Jr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561732' first='Bryce' last='Appel'], 6-6, Sr., Edgerton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610583' first='Jake' last='Burow'], 6-3, Jr., Lake Country Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2390176' first='Lucas' last='Ludlum'], 6-3, Sr., Platteville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493653' first='Jaren' last='Ward'], 6-9, Sr., Wisconsin Dells<br><br><strong>SECTIONAL 4<br><br>The Favorites (Top Half)</strong><br>Catholic Memorial (14-9)<br>Dominican (16-6)<br>Milwaukee School of Languages (15-4)<br><br><strong>The Favorites (Bottom Half)</strong><br>Milwaukee Academy of Science (17-1)<br>Racine Lutheran (20-2)<br>Racine St. Catherine's (18-4)<br><br><strong>Don't Be Surprised If ...</strong><br><br>Catholic Memorial makes a run in playoffs. The Crusaders will play in Division 2 next year due to an enrollment increase, but coach Kyle Johnsen's squad is in D3 this time around and could rattle off some wins after faring well in the mostly Division 1 Classic Eight Conference. Senior forward Jake Berkholz (6-5) is a horse in the middle for the Crusaders and is surrounded by a bunch of talented shooters in sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2140928' first='Jackson' last='Albee'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2394688' first='Matthew' last='Goedheer'] (6-2), along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2496343' first='Jake' last='Pfister'] (6-1). Sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2505474' first='Dusty' last='Roach'] (6-3) is a stellar defender and solid all-around player as well for CMH.<strong><br><br>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br>Oostburg. The Flying Dutchmen tied for the title in the Big East South Conference with Division 5 Sheboygan Lutheran and Division 4 Kohler, both stellar teams in their own right. Coach Kevin Bruggink is in his 27th season at Oostburg and recently won his 500th game at the tradition-rich school. Oostburg is 15-6 and boasts one of the better backcourt players in the state's 2026 class in physical combination guard [player_tooltip player_id='1970502' first='Cade' last='Dirkse'] (6-2), who is averaging 21.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. A difficult regular-season schedule should help Oostburg as it navigates through the top half of Sectional 4. <br><br><strong>All-Sectional Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1447228' first='Jamarion' last='Batemon'], 6-4, Sr., Academy of Science<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1351718' first='Aaron' last='Womack'], 6-6, Sr., Dominican<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1959723' first='Lamont' last='Hamilton'], 6-0, Jr., Racine St. Catherine's<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1390441' first='Devin' last='Brown'], 6-7, Sr., Academy of Science<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224532' first='Sam' last='Pitrof'], 6-3, Jr., Racine Lutheran<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1481181' first='Amare' last='Jackson'], 6-4, Sr., Academy of Science<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2231465' first='Manning' last='Shareef'], 6-6, Sr., Milwaukee School of Languages<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508293' first='Delvito' last='Velazquez'], 5-10, Soph. Messmer<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1970502' first='Cade' last='Dirkse'], 6-2, Jr., Oostburg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1432805' first='Zach' last='Behn'], 6-8, Sr., Kewaskum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->