D3 Title Game: Academy of Science gets first championship

It was, to say the least, far from easy.

But Milwaukee Academy of Science, finally, has won its first state championship in boys’ basketball.

The Novas rallied from a six-point halftime deficit, withstood a late Freedom run and watched as a last-second three was off the mark before finally emerging with a heart-stopping 57-54 win over Freedom in Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 state-title game at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Academy of Science finishes its best season ever with a 25-1 record under coach Agape Keys. The Novas finished second to Roncalli in Division 4 in 2022 and lost to West Salem in the Division 3 state semifinals in 2023. Most figured Academy of Science had its best team ever this winter, and the Novas were a heavy favorite to win the D3 state title all season.

Academy of Science lived up to those expectations in Madison over the weekend with a four-point victory over Lake Mills in the state semifinals before winning by three in the title game.

The Novas got huge performances from its two senior stars to capture the coveted Gold Ball.

Coastal Carolina recruit Devin Brown Devin Brown 6'7" | PF Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 State #196 Nation WI (6-7) had 17 points and 19 rebounds while Iowa State recruit Jamarion Batemon Jamarion Batemon 6'3" | CG Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 State #174 Nation WI (6-3) had 16 points and four rebounds as Academy of Science overcame a 34-28 halftime deficit with some intense defense, some made three-point baskets and the stellar inside play of Brown.

Outside of Brown and Batemon, Academy of Science also got a big boost from seniors Amare Jackson Amare Jackson 6'4" | SF Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 State WI (6-4) and Agape Keys Jr. Agape Keys Jr. 6'3" | CG Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 State WI (6-3), two of the better uncommitted class of 2025 prospects in the state.

Jackson slashed his way to 10 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Keys Jr. had seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was Keys who gave the Novas the lead for good with a mid-range jump shot that made it 41-39 with 10:33 left.

The lead grew to as many as eight points on a couple of different occasions in the second half, but Freedom kept coming back.

The Irish, who finished the year with a 28-2 record under 28-year-old coach Andrew Gibbons, closed within one at 55-54 on one of Drew Kortz Drew Kortz 6'1" | CG Freedom | 2025 State WI ‘s many drives to the basket.

Jackson scored on the other end after the Novas broke some full-coourt pressure, setting up the biggest play of the game.

Kortz, a 6-foot-1 senior guard who finished with a game-high 29 points and made one difficult shot after another throughout the game, drove to the basket from the right wing and banked in a shot. However, he was called for a charge on the play with just 10 seconds left.

Freedom immediately fouled Jackson, and he missed the front end of the bonus, giving Freedom one last shot at tying the game. But a contested three was off the mark from Al Wesolowski after a cross-court pass from Donovan Davis Donovan Davis 6'8" | PF Freedom | 2027 State WI , setting off a huge celebration from the Academy of Science players at midcourt.

Speaking of Davis, the 6-foot-8 sophomore forward was simply outstanding. He finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals while competing with poise against one of the best forwards in the senior class in Devin Brown Devin Brown 6'7" | PF Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 State #196 Nation WI .

Unfortunately for the Irish, the other five players who saw action against Academy of Science scored a combined six points. In the end, the lack of scoring balance might have been just too much to overcome for Freedom, which was outscored 16-2 on second-chance points and out-rebounded in the game 37-24.

BOXSCORE

Freedom (34-20 = 54)
Calhoon 1, Wesoloski 3, Vandenberg 2, Kortz 29, Davis 19, Henkel 0, Rueckl 0. Three-point field goals: Kortz 3, Davis 1, Wesoloski 1. FT: 5-8. Fouled out: None. Record: 28-2.
Milwaukee Academy of Science (28-29 = 57)
Keys 7, Jami. Batemon 0, Jackson 10, Dev. Brown 17, Jama. 16, Burkes 6, D’An. Brown 1, Valeri 0. Three-point field goals: Burkes 2, Jama. Batemon 2, Dev. Brown 1. FT: 6-10. Fouled out: None. Record: 25-1.