Wisconsin State Tournament: Saturday notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Wisconsin State Tournament in Appleton attracted strong club teams from across the state, and features some of the better individual players as well. Here's a quick rundown of what I saw on Saturday at the Champions Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Strong perimeter shooting lifts [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] past [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire'] in 17U quarterfinal</strong><br><br>With five different players swishing three-point shots, [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] 17U turned back [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire'] 73-67 in the quarterfinal round of the championship bracket, and, in the process, avenged an earlier loss to the Wausau-area program. The ringleader of the long-distance spree for JAG was 2026 combination guard [player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'] (5-10) of Assumption. After draining 10 three-pointers in a victory over Mammoth Hoops earlier in the day, Nystrom had five triples and 20 points for JAG in the narrow win over [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire']. Assumption 2026 teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] (6-0) added one three and 16 points while also dishing out some beautiful assists while 2027 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2830599' first='Silas' last='Cram'] (6-4) of Tomah had a triple and 11 points. Equally important to the strong shooting for [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] was the strong interior play of 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2637721' first='Mario' last='Padilla'] (6-2) of Wayland Academy. Padilla finished with 10 points and several rebounds while also playing physical defense in the post. For [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire'], 2026 Spencer guard [player_tooltip player_id='2622833' first='Sam' last='Bezlyk'] (6-3) had a late scoring flurry and finished with 22 points while draining four three-point shots. Bezlyk used his size and strength to score from mid range and then also was very effective from outside the arc. Rhinelander 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2386589' first='Jatyn' last='Barkus'] (6-3) also played well for [program_tooltip program_id='2502936' first='UTC' last='Fire'] as he finished with 15 points and showed the ability to attack the hoop while also scoring in the post and from outside the arc. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wisconsin Wolverines break loose to defeat [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] in 17U quarterfinals</strong><br><br>It took a while, but the Wisconsin Wolverines finally shook loose of persistent [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] to register a 58-51 win in a 17U championship bracket quarterfinal. The Wolverines got a strong showing from 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2809011' first='Jayce' last='Brechtl'] (6-6) of Waterford. The muscular and versatile Brechtl scored 17 points and got downhill in transition while scoring at the rim. He also made two three-point shots for the Wolverines. Waterford classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2847615' first='Colin' last='Lepisto'] (5-10) also had a good outing as the quick 2026 lead guard scored 10 points while handling the ball against pressure defense and probing the [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] defense and looking for his teammates. [program_tooltip program_id='2828974' first='Manitowoc' last='United'] played without a pair of regulars in Roncalli's [player_tooltip player_id='2420137' first='Dominik' last='Frozena'] (6-5) and Manitowoc Lutheran's [player_tooltip player_id='2499881' first='Wesley' last='Hecker'] (6-0), but it stayed within striking distance for most of the game, thanks in large part to the stellar play of 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'] (6-2) or Roncalli and 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561882' first='Micah' last='Kubsch'] (5-10) of Manitowoc Lincoln. Cowley scored 25 points and made three triples while also converting on all six of his foul shots. Cowley was shifty and productive on his drives to the hoop and also held his own on the glass. Kubsch made some very deep triples as well and finished with 22 points. Kubsch had five three-point baskets in the game.<br><br><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] -- Dillon, [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] advance to 17U title game</strong><br><br>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] -- Dillon rode the strong play of Milwaukee Lutheran 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'] (5-11) to a 56-43 win over the Wisconsin Wolverines in a 17U semifinal contest. Steady 2025 point guard Harold Frye III of Menomonee Falls was his usual self as well as he distributed, scored and defended well all game for the Lions. In the other semifinal, [program_tooltip program_id='2494175' first='JAG' last='Select'] got some clutch foul shooting down the stretch from Nystrom, Cram and Schlaefer to hold off [program_tooltip program_id='2347629' first='Wisconsin' last='PHD'], 67-58.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reinke helps UTC - Fire post a win over [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last=''] -- Williamson in 16U quarterfinals</strong><br><br>Mosinee 2027 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'] (6-4) was outstanding for UTC - Fire in its 64-51 quarterfinal win over [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last=''] -- Williamson. The versatile forward made shots facing the basket, got to the rim and finished, made his foul shots and buried some three-point shots. He also defended, rebounded and moved the ball for UTC. While Reinke was the best player on the floor, UTC also got a big lift from its talented backcourt duo of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2140929' first='Jackson' last='Riley'] (6-0) of Wausuau West and 2027 Luke Auner (6-1) of D.C. Everest. Riley buried five three-point shots and scored 18 points while Auner used his length and athleticism to get to the basket on the way to scoring 10 points. For [program_tooltip program_id='2225511' first='All-Wisconsin' last=''], ever-improving big man [player_tooltip player_id='2382317' first='James' last='Brady'] (6-9) of Tigerton used his big frame and improved footwork to score a team-best 14 points. Brady has shed some weight and is moving up and down the floor better than ever while also doing a good job of keeping the ball above his head off rebounds and using the glass to score in the post. UTC - Fire moves on to meet [program_tooltip program_id='2347629' first='Wisconsin' last='PHD'] in the 16U championship semifinals Sunday.<br><br><strong>MTXE Premier hits on all cylinders in big win over All In Athletics</strong><br><br>MTXE Premier has made strong improvement throughout the spring and that continued at the Prep Hoops Wisconsin State Tournament in its 73-44 16U quarterfinal win over All In Athletics. MTXE's best players came up big as wing [player_tooltip player_id='2414753' first='Rigg' last='Waterman'] (6-4) of Catholic Memorial scored a team-best 20 points and drilled four three-points shots while guard [player_tooltip player_id='2423561' first='Max' last='Gogin'] (5-9) of Wauwatosa West added 19 points and five triples. Also performing well for MTXE were Lake Country Lutheran forward [player_tooltip player_id='2841010' first='Simon' last='Dustin'] (6-6), who scored seven points, and Pardeeville wing [player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'] (6-3), who had six points. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2831280' first='Matthew' last='Reyes'] (5-11) of Kenosha Christian Life led All In Athletics with 13 points while physical forward [player_tooltip player_id='2831277' first='Kyle' last='Yehle'] (6-2) of Westosha Central added nine. MXTE moves on to play the [program_tooltip program_id='2110787' first='Wisconsin' last='26ers'] in Sunday's 16U championship quarterfinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->