D2 Title Game: Wauwatosa West outlasts Racine Park

The WIAA Division 2 championship game between Racine Park and Wauwatosa West Saturday evening at the Kohl Center in Madison went into overtime and a couple of marquee players ended up fouling out.

But in the end, it was two clutch foul shots from senior Jake Hansen Jake Hansen 6'1" | SG Wauwatosa West | 2025 State #331 Nation WI with just five seconds left that allowed Wauwatosa West to register a 60-57 victory and earn the school's first state boys' basketball title in its initial appearance at the tournament at the Kohl Center.

Hansen had a steal on an inbounds pass under the Park basket and was fouled to set up the game-clinching charity tosses. His smart play was huge but so, too, was the stellar play of junior Matthew Kloskey Matthew Kloskey 6'5" | SF/SG Wauwatosa West | 2026 State WI , a 6-foot-5 wing and one of the state's most improved players over the past 12 months. Kloskey finished with a game-high 29 points, including four in overtime. He made 14-of-18 shots from the field and also had seven rebounds as Wauwatosa West finished the season with a 24-6 record under coach Chris Newbauer.

Racine Park, which ended its best season ever with a 27-3 mark under coach Casey Robbins, had a chance to win the game in regulation, calling a timeout with 13 seconds left in a tie game. But the Panthers couldn't get a shot off as the Wauwatosa West defense stepped up to thwart any potential game-winning shot.

The game was tight from the start as both squads displayed what got them this far. Racine Park's strong defense, particularly from senior Isaiah Robinson Isaiah Robinson 6'1" | PG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI , held Wauwatosa West 20 points below its season average. Meanwhile, Wauwatosa West's big three of Hansen, Kloskey and Jalen Brown Jalen Brown 6'4" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2027 State #94 Nation WI (14 points) proved difficult to contain for a full 36 minutes.

A big key for Wauwatosa West was the play of its bench, especially when Kloskey and Brown headed to the sidelines with four fouls midway through the second half.

Sophomore Karson Mangum (6-5) had two huge baskets for the Trojans during that stretch while junior guards DJ Hennings DJ Hennings 5'10" | PG Wauwatosa West | 2026 State WI , Steven Wright Steven Wright 5'10" | PG Wauwatosa West | 2026 WI , Roman Long Roman Long 6'0" | CG Wauwatosa West | 2026 State WI and Max Gogin Max Gogin 5'10" | PG Wauwatosa West | 2027 State WI also played roles as Wauwatosa West actually overcame a deficit with its stars seated next to their teammates on the bench. Wauwatosa West's reserves outscored Racine Park's bench players, 8-0.

Once Brown and Kloskey returned, it was game on through the rest of regulation and overtime as the two heavyweights traded jabs until the final horn sounded.

Even after Hansen's two foul shots in overtime made it 60-57, Racine Park got off a decent look from Robinson from three, but it was off the mark to end the contest.

Robinson, who set a WIAA State Tournament record for most steals in two tourney games with 15, had 13 points for the Panthers while Zare Gwinn Zare Gwinn 6'1" | SG/PG Racine Park | 2027 State WI added 12.

Moss had another exceptional outing before fouling out as he scored 19 points and snared six rebounds.

BOXSCORE

Racine Park (29-25-3 = 57)
Gwinn 12, Robinson 13, Cam Betker 6, Col. Betker 7, Moss 19, Freeman 0, Eastland 0, DeLeon 0, Santoya-White 0. Three-point field goals: Cam. Betker 2, Moss 2, Robinson 1. FT: 4-7. Fouled out: Moss, Cam. Betker. Record: 27-3.
Wauwatosa West (30-24-6 = 60)
Hennings 4, Hansen 5, Kloskey 29, Chambers 0, Brown 14, Long 2, Wright 0, Gogin 0, Magnum 6. Three-point baskets: Hansen 1. FT: 9-12. Fouled out: Brown. Record: 24-6.