Predicted Division 1 regional champions

The WIAA playoffs start on Tuesday with regional quarterfinal games across the state. Regional semifinals are set for next Friday with the regional finals scheduled for Saturday. Here's a quick look at my predicted regional champions from each Division 1 sectional.   SECTIONAL 1 No. 1 seed (top half) Kaukauna (21-3) -- Senior guard and Green Bay recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1289073' first='Keegan' last='Van Kauwenberg'] (6-4, 24.2 ppg) is having a first-team all-state type of season and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen'] (6-9) is averaging a double/double at 17.1 ppg and 11.0 rpg. No. 5 seed (top half) Appleton North (17-7) -- Appleton North hosts Superior (14-10) in a regional semifinal and has the luxury of awaiting a team that will travel nearly 250 miles in order to play the game. The Lightning of coach Chris Kellett have a talented squad with multiple players who can score in double figures on any given night. No. 3 seed (bottom half) Eau Claire Memorial (19-4) -- The Old Abes have sustained four losses, although coach Chad Brieske's squad went 14-0 in winning the Big Rivers Conference title. A very strong senior class, anchored by guard [player_tooltip player_id='1481178' first='Cooper' last='Jesperson'] (6-4), will be tough to get past in the post season. No. 2 seed (bottom half) Marshfield (18-6) -- With its fourth consecutive Wisconsin Valley Conference title now tucked away, the Tigers set their sights on getting to Madison for the WIAA State Tournament for the first time since 1994 and just the second time since 1941. SECTIONAL 2 No. 1 seed (top half) De Pere (23-1) -- De Pere got pushed several times in the Fox River Classic Conference, but coach Brian Winchester's squad ran the table in league play with an 18-0 record. After falling in the sectional finals a year ago, the Redbirds and star senior and University of Wisconsin recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1351717' first='Zach' last='Kinziger'] (6-3) have their sights set on playing at the Kohl Center in mid March. No. 4 seed (top half) Pewaukee (15-9) -- The Pirates, who won the WIAA Division 1 state title in 2021, 2022 and 2023 before finishing second last year, move to Division 1 with a team that appears to be playing well at the right time of the season. St. Thomas recruit Luka Momclilovic (6-8) leads a talented cast ready for more playoff success. No. 6 seed (bottom half) Brookfield East (15-9) -- The Spartans lost out on a share of the Greater Metro Conference crown last Thursday with a 69-68 loss at Menomonee Falls. Those two teams meet again in the regional finals, but this time the game is at Brookfield East. Coach Joe Rux's squad at Brookfield East is led by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2492552' first='TJ' last='Platz'] (6-3), who is averaging 16.8 ppg. No. 7 seed (bottom half) Oshkosh North (15-9) -- The Spartans will need to win a couple of difficult games at the regional level in order to advance to sectionals, including a regional semifinal against visiting Bay Port (14-10) and a likely regional final against Homestead (18-6). Iowa State recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1282617' first='Xzavion' last='Mitchell'] (6-6) headlines a talented team for coach Brad Weber at Oshkosh North, which is healthy and playing at a high level. SECTIONAL 3 No. 1 seed (top half) Kettle Moraine (24-0) -- The Classic Eight Conference champions from Kettle Moraine are the lone unbeaten Division 1 team in the state, and are hungry for additional success in the post season. St. Norbert recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2606542' first='Zach' last='Froemming'] (6-4) and Eau Claire recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1611623' first='Roman' last='Thompson'] (6-5) are key performers for coach Brian Richert's squad. No. 4 seed (top half) Madison Memorial (18-6) -- Oh boy. Talk about an anticipated regional final. Should Big Eight Conference champion Sun Prairie East (18-6) get past Badger (12-11) and should Madison Memorial defeat Madison La Follette (9-12) in regional semifinals, we would get the third meeting of the season between Sun Prairie East and Madison Memorial. Despite the Cardinals winning the league title and Madison Memorial finishing third, the game would be in the Spartans' gym. Sun Prairie East won the game in Sun Prairie with Madison Memorial 89-88, but was soundly defeated on the westside of Madison by the Spartans, 78-53. No. 3 seed (bottom half) Verona (18-6) -- The Wildcats finished one game behind Sun Prairie East for second place in the Big Eight Conferences standings. Coach Curtrel Robinson's squad has a pair of very good seniors in Northern Michigan recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1156904' first='Drew' last='Murphy'] (6-5) and versatile senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1874957' first='Cameron' last='Williams'] (6-3). No. 7 seed (bottom half) Sun Prairie West (15-9) -- Going out on a limb a bit here as the Wolves would need to, in all likelihood, win a pair of games against really good teams. First up is Mukwonago (13-11) in a regional semifinal. And then, coach Jay Swanson's squad is looking at a game most likely at Waunakee (19-5), which shared the Badger Large title with Fort Atkinson. It won't be easy, but Sun Prairie West might have some post-season magic forthcoming. SECTIONAL 4 No. 1 seed (top half) Wisconsin Lutheran (22-2) -- A legitimate title contender after winning the Division 2 crown a year ago and even after losing Duke freshman Kon Knueppel to graduation. The Vikings are the only team to beat De Pere this season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'] (6-6) has been dynamite all winter for coach Ryan Walz. No. 5 seed (top half) Oak Creek (18-6) -- The Knights get Southeast Wisconsin Conference rival Kenosha Indian Trail in the semifinals and then are looking at a potential third game with Franklin, another Southeast Conference opponents. Franklin swept Oak Creek by a combined total of seven points, but beating a good team three times in a season is difficult, especially when the game is on the Oak Creek court. No. 3 seed (bottom half) Westosha Central (15-9) -- A couple of 15-9 teams could meet in the regional finals with Westosha Central taking on Milwaukee King. Both squads have 15-9 records, but the game would be at Westosha Central and the Falcons boast a couple of hungry seniors in Cornell recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1289064' first='Elijah' last='Griffin'] (6-3) and Parkside recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1853679' first='Liam' last='Lubkeman'] (6-9). No. 2 seed (bottom half) West Allis Central (18-5) -- With recent wins over Whitnall, Wisconsin Lutheran and Pewaukee, West Allis Central has served notice it will be a big factor come playoff time. That time is here and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'] (6-4), who has committed to Iowa State, is surrounded by talented teammates as coach Dave Mlachnik's program takes aim at its first state-tournament berth since 2019.

The WIAA playoffs start on Tuesday with regional quarterfinal games across the state. Regional semifinals are set for next Friday with the regional finals scheduled for Saturday. Here's a quick look at my predicted regional champions from each Division 1 sectional.